AjN^JS'UAL  repoet 


UPON  THE 


GEOGRAPHICAL  SURVEYS  WEST  OF  THE  ONE-Ilt'iNDREDTH 
MERIDIAN  IK  THE  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES  OF  CAL- 
IFORNIA, OREGON,  NEVADA,  TEXAS,  ARIZONA, 
COLORADO,    IDAHO,    MONTANA,    NEW 
MEXICO,  UTAH,  AND  WYOMING, 


riKST  LIEl'TEXAKT  OF  E\C.IXF,K1!S,    U.   fe.   A., 


APPENDIX    N  N 


01     THF 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS  FOR  1877. 


^V  A  S  H I N  G  T  O  ^^ : 

(iOVEENMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE. 
1877. 


^e^Ay' y/n^€y'  C^/riMt  U//t^/f-^  _^^ 


'VO 


■? 


-7 


LIBRARY     OF 


1685- IQ56 


ANNUAL    REPORT 


UPON  THE 


GEOGRAPHICAL   SURVEYS    WEST   OF   THE   ONE-HUNDREDTH 
MERIDIAN  IN  THE  STATES  AND  TERRITORIES  OF  CAL- 
IFORNIA, OREGON,  NEVADA,  TEXAS,  ARIZONA, 
COLORADO,    IDAHO,    MONTANA,    NEW 
MEXICO,  UTAH,  AND  WYOMING, 


aEOKOE   M.   W^HEELER, 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  OF  ENGINEERS,    U.   S.   A.  ; 


BEING 


APPENDIX    N  N 


OF   THE 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS  FOR  1877. 


WASHIl!^GTOE: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE. 

1877. 


NOTE. 

The  following  topographical  atlas  mapa,  published  during  the  year,  accompany  the 
copies  of  Appeudix  N  N  of  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers,  being  an- 
nual report  of  Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Wheeler,  Corps  of  Engineers,  in  charge  of  United  States 
Geograi^hical  Surveys  for  1877,  and  are  in  continuation  of  the  series,  ninety-five  in 
number,  on  a  scale  of  1  inch  to  8  miles,  embracing  the  territory  of  the  United  States 
lying  west  of  the  100th  meridian.     (See  Progress  Map.) 

1.  Atlas  sheet  53  C,  embracing  portions  of  Central  Colorado,  and  lying  principally  in 
the  drainage-basin  of  the  South  Platte  River. 

2.  Atlas  sheet  61  B,  embracing  portions  of  Central  Colorado,  and  showing  portions 
of  the  drainage-basins  of  the  Rio  Grande,  Arkansas,  Gunnison,  and  "South  Platte 
Rivers,  indicating  economical  features. 

3.  Atlas  sheet  61  C  sub,  embiacing  a  portion  of  Southwest  Colorado,  and  drainage- 
basins  of  the  Gunnison,  Rio  Grande,  Animas,  Miguel,  and  Uncompahgre  Rivers,  repre- 
senting economical  features. 

4.  Atlas  sheet  61  D,  embracing  portions  of  Southern  Colorado,  and  lying  principally 
in  the  drainage-basin  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

5.  Atlas  sheet  65  D,  embracing  a  portion  of  Southeastern  California,  and  showing 
the  interior  basin  of  Panamint  and  Death  Valleys,  Amargosa  River  and  Owen's  Lake 
drainage,  indicating  economical  features. 

6.  Atlas  sheet  69  B,  embracing  portions  of  Southern  Colorado  and  Northern  New 
Mexico,  and  lying  principally  in  the  drainage-basins  of  the  Rio  Grande,  Conejos, 
Chama,  and  Navajo,  indicating  economical  features. 

7.  Atlas  sheet  70  A,  tmbracing  portions  of  Southern  Colorado  and  Northern  New 
Mexico,  and  showing  the  drainage-basins  of  the  Purgatory  and  Canadian  Rivers,  and 
Costilla  and  Culebra  Creeks,  indicating  economical  features. 

8.  Atlas  sheet  70  C,  embracing  a  portion  of  Northern  New  Mexico,  and  showing  the 
drainage-basins  of  the  Canadian  and  Mora  River.*),  indicating  economical  features. 

9.  Atlas  sheet  77  B,  embracing  portions  of  Central  New  Mexico,  and  lying  in  the 
drainage-basins  c  f  the  Rio  Grande  and  Pecos  River,  indicating  economical  features. 


[extract  from  the  annual  report  of  the  chief  of  engineers  to 
the  secretary  of  war.] 

Office  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers, 

^Yashington,  D.  C,  October  12,  1877. 


GEOGRAPHICAL    SURVEYS    OF    THE    TERRITORY     WEST    OF    THE    ONE 
HUNDREDTH    MERIDIAN. 

Officer  in  charge,  First  Lieut.  George  M.  W'^heeler,  Corps  of  Engineers 
having  under  his  orders  First  Lieurs.  Eric  Bergland  and  Samuel  E.Tillman 
and  Second  Lieut.  Thomas  W.  Symons,  Corps  of  Engineers ;  First  Lieut 
Eogers  Biruie,  jr.,  Thirteenth  Infantry  ;  First  Lieut.  Charles  C.  Morri 
son,  Sixth  Cavalry  ;  and  Second  Lieut.  M.  M.  Macomb,  Fourth  Artillery 

The  following  gentlemen  have  been  engaged  in  special  scientific  inves- 
tigations during  the  year :  Dr.  F.  Karapf,  astronomical  and  triaugulation 
observer  and  computer;  A.  R.  Conkling,  geologist;  H.  W.  Heushaw, 
ornithologist;  Dr.  J.  T.  Rothrock,  botanist;  and  Prof.  F.  W.  Putnam, 
ethnologist. 

Owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  appropriation  act,  the  expedition  of  1876 
was  only  enabled  to  take  the  field  in  August,  and  was  disbanded  at  Fort 
Lyon,  Colo.,  and  Carson  City,  Kev.,  during  the  latter  part  of  November. 
The  expedition  of  1877,  in  three  sections,  took  the  field  at  Fort  Lyon, 
Colo.,  Ogden,  Utah,  and  Carson  City,  Nev.,  during  the  month  of  May. 
The  number  of  small  parties  organized  prosecuted  their  labors  in  parts 
of  California,  Oregon,  Nevada,  Utah,  Idaho,  Montana,  Wyoming,  Colo- 
rado, and  New  Mexico,  and  with  the  prospect  of  a  long  field-season  only 
to  be  closed  by  the  inclemency  of  the  incoming  winter  at  the  high  alti- 
tudes visited. 

The  areas  surveyed  by  the  expedition  of  1876  lie  in  California,  Ne- 
vada, Colorado,  and  New  Mexico,  and  come  within  the  limits  of  atlas 
sheets  47,  48,  56,  61,  62,  70,  77,  and  78.     (See  progress  map.) 

The  basins  of  drainage  entered  comprise  portions  of  the  "  great  in- 
terior basin,"  the  Arkansas,  Rio  Grande,  Gunnison,  and  several  of  the 
streams  along  the  western  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevada. 

The  astronomical  stations  at  which  latitude-determinations  were  made 
were  those  necessary  to  the  checking  of  the  measured  lines  of  survey 
through  the  mountain  defiles. 

Two  bases  were  measured;  194  triaugulation,  765  three-point,  and 
5,115  minor  stations  were  occupied  ;  4,379  miles  of  survey  were  run ; 
168  monuments  were  built;  4,553  sets  of  altitude-observations  were 
made;  15  mining  camps  were  visited. 

Of  the  quarto  volumes  authorized  by  Congress  to  be  published,  the 
one  numbered  IV  has  appeared  during  the  year,  and  Vol.  I[  is  passing 
through  the  press. 

The  tables  of  declinations  of  2,018  latitude-stars,  prepared  by  Prof. 
T.  H.  Safford,  are  in  the  hands  of  the  printer. 

With  slight  exceptions  the  MSS.  for  Vols.  I,  VI,  and  VII  of  the 
series  are  ready  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  printer;  and  the  illus- 
trations have  all  been  prepared,  and  are  now  being  engraved  and 
printed. 


IV  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

Seven  topographical  sheets  have  been  added  to  the  atlas,  and  a  num- 
ber of  others  are  being  completed  and  in  various  stages  of  progress. 

The  edition  of  colored  maps  published  with  the  extra  copies  of  the 
report  exhibit  the  natural  resources  of  the  country,  and  are  of  value  in 
connection  with  the  settlement  of  the  western  region.  In  the  areas 
given,  the  land  branch  of  the  Government  may  be  able  to  see  at  a  glance 
the  adaptability  of  the  surface  for  agriculture  or  grazing,  and  the  area 
of  timber,  position  of  mines,  &c.  The  special  surveys  of  the  Lake 
Tahoe  region,  and  about  the  Comstock  mines,  the  maps  from  both  of 
which  are  to  be  shown  on  scales  larger  than  those  usually  employed, 
will  illustrate  some  of  the  best  topographical  efforts  of  the  survey,  and 
prove  useful  to  the  mining  and  lumber  interests  of  that  section. 

The  topographical  maps  which  are  the  main  results  of  the  labors  of 
the  officers  and  assistants,  and  regularly  issued  as  material  is  collected, 
are  at  once  available  to  the  War  Department  for  its  purposes,  and  reach 
the  public  in  the  regular  course  of  publication,  and  through  map  pub- 
lishers at  home  and  abroad. 

The  continuation  of  this  useful  work  in  its  present  satisfactory  stage 
of  organization  will,  it  is  hoped,  commend  itself  to  the  favorable  con- 
sideration of  Congress. 

The  amounts  estimated  by  Lieutenant  Wheeler  for  the  continuation 
of  the  survey  are  recommended,  viz: 

For  continuing  the  geographical  survey  of  the  territory  of  the  United 
States  west  of  the  one-hundredth  meridian,  the  supply  branches  of  the 
War  Department  assisting  as  heretofore,  being  for  field  and  office  work,  * 

and  for  the  preparation,  engraving,  and  printing  of  the  maps,  charts, 
plates,  cuts,  photographic  plate,  and  other  illustrations  for  reports ;  for 
temporary  office-room  at  points  remote  from  Washington,  D.  C,  and  the 
purchase  at  nominal  rates  of  sites  for  field  observations,  for  the  fiscal 
year  ending  June  30,  1877 $120,000  00 

(His  annual  report,  with  appendixes  and  estimates,  is  appended.) 
(See  Appendix  NN.) 


ERRATA. 

Page  1221,  in  last  column  of  first  table,  for  "  1.0784  "  read  "1.0084." 
Page  1233,  ninth  line  from  top,  for  "  Fort  Lyon,  Colo.,"  read  "Emory's,  N.  Mex." 
Page  1233,  fifteenth  line  from  bottom,  for  "Anton  Chico"  read  "  Emory's,  N.  Mex." 
Page  1268,  fourth  line  from  top,  for  "  Slate  "  read  "  State." 
Page  1271,  twenty -third  line  from  bottom,  for  "  30  inch  "  read  "  1  minute." 
Page  1271,  twenty-sixth  line  from  bottom,  for  "  10  inch  or  20  inch"  read  "  10  sec.  or 
20  sec." 
Page  1299,  eighteenth  line  from  top,  for  "  northwest "  read  "  northeast." 
Page  1315,  second  hue  from  top,  for  "iEcmophorus  "  read  "^Echmophorus." 
Page  1323,  sixth  line  from  bottom,  for  "serous"  read  "servus." 
Page  1324,  thirteenth  line  from  top,  for  "  Cinex"  read  "  Cimex." 
Page  1330,  second  line  from  top,  for  "Apiomerina"  read  "Apiomerinus." 
Page  1330,  tenth  and  eleventh  lines  from  top,  for  "  liguttatns  "  read  "  biguttatus." 
Page  1333,  twenty-second  line  from  top,  for  "  Darius"  read  "  Darnius." 


APPENDIX  N  N, 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  GEOUGE  M.  WHEELER, 
CORPS  OF  ENGINEBtlS,  FOK  THE  FISCAL  YEAR  E^fDING 
JUNE  30,  1877. 

GEOGRArHICAL  SURVEYS  WEST  OF  THE  ONE-HUNDREDTH  MERIDIAN  IN 
TPIE   STATES   AND    TERRITORIES    OF   CALIFORNIA,    OREGON,    NEVADA, 

TEXAS,  Arizona,  Colorado,  idaho,  Montana,  new  Mexico,  utah, 

AND  WVOMING. 


contents. 

REPORTS. 

Page. 

Suniiuary  of  field  and  office  operations 1211 

Astrouomiciil 1213 

Geodetic  and  topographical 1218 

Description  of  measuring-rod,  method  of  measurement,  &c 1219 

Routes  of  communication 1^23 

Progress  map 1245 

Profiles 1245 

Natural  resources 124G 

Barometric  altitudes 1246 

Mining  information 1246 

Natural  history,  (including  geology  and  zoology) 1248 

Publications 1249 

Conclnsion 1249 

Estimates 1250 

APPENDIXES. 

A. — Executive  and  descriptive  report  of  Lieut.  Eric  Bergland,  Corps  of  En- 
gineers    1250 

B. — Executive  and  descriptive  report  of  Lieut.  Samuel  E.  Tillman,  Corps  of  En- 
gineers    1253 

C. — Executive  and  descriptive  report  of  Lieut.  Thomas  W.  Sjmons,  Corps  of  En- 
gineers    1257 

D. — Executive  and  descriptive  report  of  Lieut.  R.  Birnie,jr.,  Thirteenth  lofantry.  1262 

E. — Executive  and  descriptive  report  of  Lieut.  Charles  C.  Morrison,  Sixth  Cav- 
alry   1273 

F. — Executive  and  descriptive  report  of  Lieut.  M.  M.  Macomb,  Fourth  Artillery.  1278 

G. — Prelimiuarj'  report  ou    examination    at  the  Comstock  Lode,   by  John  A. 

Church rJ84 

H. — Report  on  the  geology  of  portions  of  Western  Nevada  and  Eastern  Cali- 
fornia, between  the  parallels  of  39-"  30'  and  3rf^  30',  by  Mr.  A.  R.  Conkling 1285 

H  1. — Report  on  the  lithology  of  portions  of  Southern  Colorado  and  Northeru 

New  Mexico,  by  Mr.  A.  R.  Conkling 1295 

H  2. — Report  on  the  foot-hills  facing  the  plains  from  latitude  35'^  30'  to  38^,  ap- 
proximately, by  Mr.  A.  R.  Conkling 1298 

I. — Report  on  the  ornithology  of  portions  of  Nevada  and  California,  by  H.  W. 

Heashaw 1303 

J. — Report  upon  the  hemiptera  collected  during  the  years  1874  and  1875,  by  P. 

R.  Uhler 1322 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Progress  map opposite . .  1245 

Protile  map  opposite..  1247 

Sketch  of  lignite  seams,  Vermejo  Canon 1300 


REPORT 


United  States  Engineer  Office, 
Geographical  Surveys  West  op  the  100th  Meridian, 

Washhigton,  J).  C,  June  30,  1877. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  for  the  fiscal 
year  ending  Jnne  30,  1877 : 

Including  the  expeditions  of  1876-'77,  the  fields  occupied  will  have 
embraced  parts  of  the  States  and  Territories  of  California,  Oregon,  Ne- 
vada, Texas,  Arizona,  Colorado,  Idaho,  Montana,  New  Mexico,  Utah,  and 
Wyoming. 

The  remaining  political  divisions  of  the  area  west  of  the  one-hundredth 
meridian,  into  which  parties  of  this  expedition  have  not  entered  for  its 
survey,  are  tlie  State  of  Kansas  and  the  Territories  of  Washington  and 
Dakota.  The  w^ork  so  far  has  been  directed  to  the  most  rugged  and 
thinly-settled  portions  of  the  western  mountain  region.  As  time  and 
means  permit,  the  areas  occupied  will  adjoin  the  sections  of  territory 
already  entered  and  continue  toward  completion  the  topographical  sur- 
vey of  the  entire  region. 

SUMMARY   OF  FIELD   AND   OFFICE   OPERATIONS. 

Tlie  expedition  of  1S7G,  ia  two  sections,  (Colorado  and  California,)  took 
The  field  during  the  month  of  August  from  Fort  Lyon,  Col.,  and  Carson, 
Nev.,  respectively.  Two  parties  were  organized  at  Fort  Lyon  and 
four  at  Carson. 

The  expedition  of  1877  took  the  field  during  the  early  part  of  May, 
resuming  the  labors  as  left  by  parties  of  1876  in  the  Colorado  and  Cali- 
ifornia  sections  of  the  survey,  and  organizing  a  third  division  to  operate 
in  portions  of  Utah,  Idaho,  and  Montana,  to  be  known  as  the  "  Utah 
section  "'of  the  survey. 

The  disbandment  of  the  parties  of  the  1876  expedition  was  concluded 
at  Fort  Lyon,  Col.,  and  Carson,  Nev.,  respectively,  during  the  latter  days 
of  November,  closing  a  season  of  a  little  less  than  four  months,  made 
short  by  want  of  necessary  appropriations  with  which  to  enter  the  field 
during  May,  as  is  most  economical  and  satisfactory,  and  marked  by  an 
activity  on  the  part  of  parties  that  has  aiforded  favorable  results. 

The  following  changes  in  the  personnel  have  occurred  during  the 
year: 

Lieut.  William  L.  Marshall,  Corps  of  Engineers,  relieved  from  duty 
August  8,  1876. 

Lieut.  Samuel  E.  Tillman,  Corps  of  Engineers,  reported  for  duty 
August  10,  1876. 

Lieut.  Thomas  W.  Symons,  Corps  of  Engineers,  reported  for  duty 
August  9,  in  obedience  to  Special  Order  No.  161,  paragraph  5,  Head- 
quarters of  the  Army,  August  8,  1876. 

Professor  Jules  Marcou,  a  member  of  the  expedition  of  1875,  and  later 


1212        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

connected  with  the  office,  called  by  private  business,  contributes  no 
longer  his  valuable  labors  in  western  geology,  having  left  the  country 
for  Europe  for  a  limited  period.  Dr.  Oscar  Loew,  whose  industry  in 
many  fields  of  scientific  inquiry  are  evidenced  by  his  reports,  returns' to 
his  home  in  Germany.  His  large  enthusiasm  and  commendable  energy 
justifies  the  hope  that  he  may  forego  any  prolonged  professional  under- 
taking there,  and  return  to  this  country  to  continue  his  labors. 

The  services  of  Frank  Carpenter  terminated  when  he  left  the  United 
States  for  the  purpose  of  joining  in  the  surveys  no^^  being  prosecuted 
by  Americans  in  Brazil. 

Mr.  George  M.  Lockwood,  connected  with  the  work  since  1873,  upon 
appointment  to  the  chief  clerkship  of  the  Paten  Office,  comiladed  his 
service  here. 

The  only  appointments  made  during  the  year,  except  as  to  minor  posi- 
tions, are  those  of  Mr.  John  A.  Church,  mining  engineer,  now  engaged 
in  an  examination  of  the  mining  affairs  about  the  Comstock  Lode,  and 
Mr.  E.  T.  Gunter,  who  accompanies  the  party  of  Lieutenant  Bergland 
for  the  field  season.  Dr.  J.  T.  Rotlirock  has  been  engaged  during  the 
year  in  the  completion  of  his  botanical  report,  which,  in  connection  with 
the  special  reports  of  several  scientific  gentlemen,  will  make  the  body 
of  volume  vi. 

Prof.  F.  W.  Putnam,  without  additional  compensation,  continues  his 
work  upon  the  archajological  collections  placed  in  his  hands,  and  brings 
toward  completion  the  manuscript  for  volume  vii  of  the  quarto  rei)orts. 

Four  general-service  clerks  have  been  enlisted,  who  are  called  upon, 
in  addition  to  frequent  clerical  duty,  to  assist  in  the  tracing  and  draught- 
ing of  maps,  and  in  the  field  for  topographical  observations. 

I  desire  to  recognize  the  cheerful  assistance  frequently  extended  by 
the  officers  of  the  supply  department  of  the  Army  in  facilitating  the 
progress  of  the  work,  and  to  others,  officers  of  the  Government  and  indi- 
Aiduals,  who  have  shown  willingness  to  aid,  either  directly  in  the  objects 
sought,  or  by  appreciation  of  the  results  obtained. 

The  following  list  notes  certain  of  the  more  prominent  features  of  the 
field  and  office  work  : 

FIELD. 

Sextant-liititude  stations 74 

Bases  nieasurttl 2 

Triangles  about  bases  measured 50 

Maip  triaiigulation-stations  occupied - fi4 

Secondary  triangulation-statious.., .^.  80 

Station  on  meanders 5, 115 

Three-point  stations  occupied 7(i5 

Camps  made ^Jl7 

Miles  meandered 4,879.48 

Magnetic  variations  observed 20S 

Monuments  built 168 

Cistern-barometer  stations  occupied 749 

Aneroid-stations  occupied 3,  804 

Mining-camps  visited 15 

Mineral  and  thermal  springs  noted Hi 

Mammals,  specimens  collected 13 

Birds,  specimens  collected 109 

Reptiles,  lots  collected 10 

Fishes,  lots  collected 9 

Insects,  lots  collected 31 

Shells,  lots  collected .• 2 

OFFICE. 

Astronomical  positions  computed 46 

Stations  adj  usted  by  method  of  least  squares 93 


APPENDIX   NN.  1213 

Triangles  computed 279 

Distauces  computed 186 

Latitudes  and  longitudes  computed 186 

Azimuths  computed 186 

Sheets  and  parts  of  sheets  plotted,  (1  inch  to  2  miles) 17 

Special  sheets  drawn,  (various  scales) 16 

Cistern-barometer  altitudes  computed 7()t) 

Aneroid-barometer  altitudes  computed 3,709 

Atlas-maps  (1  inch  to  4  miles)  published 7 

Atlas-majjs  (I  inch  to  4  miles)  nearly  ready  for  publication 4 

Atlas-maps  (1  inch  to  4  miles)  partially  completed 2 

Reports  published:  Volume  iv. 

Reports  distributed 1, 533 

Reports  in  course  of  publication  :  Volumes  i,  vi,  vii;  Star  Catalogue,  and  table 

of  distances. 

Maps  distributed 8, 133. 

ASTRONOMICAL. 

The  latitudes  of  a  number  of  points,  as  determined  by  the  officers  of 
the  survey  for  the  season,  are  herewith  given,  viz: 


1214 


REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF     OF    ENGINEERS. 


^ 


•^ 


'^ 


£-5 


<=3 


0)  -t-.  ■ 


•jaAax-Bos 


Ji 


■inna:)oatis-Bi!i;v 


^fA_^,)i^';£,^,^^^y^_f4^\d,^^\^,m;^^^ 


OP^<)P^P^P^<((l^pH<1H^pH£H  ij'p4  Pn  <)  nj'fli  p^  ■<  <]  fl,  fM  <^  i-^"^  <)  O  &i  Oi  fLc  o'Ph  <)  <(  O 


APPENDIX    NN. 


1215. 


^1 


bo  ^i;- 

•a        es. 


«      pq 


00  T-H  1-4 


fzi«? 


W^lzi 


■"^^jN^'l^ja^W^^asH^iz^aiw^'l^'t/;;?; 


8«. 


a 


8 

a 


_«  8   05 


:z;«jw^;s5 


J  ,2  8 .-;  8 .2 


«;H^;25 


:  :  ■  8 
,  •  ,  o 


■£'"  £  o'S   ;•?  E'^  £    '"H'^  £    '-g'S  o    ■•""So    -.SK.zi   ;w.sw.gw.2    ;'E-S2.S    ;  *.2-s  o    -.S-^.S^.S-^.S  8 

Il1illlll3lll1lll1llllllllllil|||ill||ll|i|^ 

^cft  -         -     ^--     -.«a.  B     «stf      wBd      «         (5      t)4(5        <sa.?.t»         a     «tsd      ass      ecjo 


<1 


<1 


<i 


« 


>         -S       -5 


1216 


REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 


^ 


a  o 

t-  ri 


(0  !B 

213 


»3 


Sw 


S  a 


9Aoq'B  epmpiY 


^ 


C! 


i^'a5w^;^f4^'^;2iaJ3^';zi 


■    C5 
O    4)    H 


8.2 


;5CfiH^^5d^-25t»f4^;25a2 


SffigSaS.- 828828 -828 
E:sS='C:;52nSaat:r:2"'C~ 

?J?  =  ?r,gj3  3  g  «  S  ?rg  «  3 


«w^^^ 


i-lP-(P-iOi-?P-fM'^<lrtCCPi<<<10?J<l?iUPi*'3t)P<<1?HOP-i<5a! 


CO    QO   p    S 


^  ate 


u  a  tl      ><«  ei 


•jaq 
■tnnn  !(99q8-SBxi  y 


3         a 


APPENDIX    NN. 


1217 


t- 

<M 

T?* 

-3" 

f- 

ct 

o 

o 

o 

CI 

O 

C» 

■w 

00 

to 

^ 

^ 

«5 

n 

in 

t- 

o 

TT 

in 

Izj^^is^!^ 


_a)  8  « 


«?!zi 


^.^^ 


Mf,£l^0§,3 


Sjn 


a  it^  ;:.-=  a 


^    hrtTiS    hr,  w    i^^::;     5.£  -     t,^    ^-^    fc^^     bj;.'C 


f^^^gj" 

'W^?^^ 

W^ 

:?5'^-f^«='-?P 

IF'^ 

H^ 

;z;<y..^^ 

a  ;  : 
'S  I  : 
3  •  ^ 

8  :  : 

£    I    I 

2    ii- 

8 

£ 
g 

"issi.a.^ 

SSi's 

8 

a 

3 

:  :  8  : 

>    -a  • 

S5; 


77  E 


1218  REPORT   OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

The  latitude  and  longitude  and  altitude  of  the  main  astronomical 
stations  will  be  given  in  volume  II  of  the  quarto  reports,  now  passing 
through  the  press. 

It  has  not  been  found  necessary  to  occupy  further  main  astronomical 
stations  for  the  purpose  of  checking  positions  determined  by  other  means 
in  the  prosecution  of  work  of  1877 ;  but  upon  the  completion  of  the 
observatory  at  Ogden  and  those  contemplated — one  at  Denver,  Col., 
another  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierras,  a  number  of  points  to  the 
north  and  south  of  the  present  line  of  the  Pacific  Eailroad,  i.  e.,  in  Oregon, 
Idaho,  Montana,  Texas,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona — may  be  occupied. 

GEODETIC   AND   TOPOGRAPHICAL. 

The  sketches  showing  the  triangulatiou  in  the  Colorado,  Utah,  and 
California  sections  are  added  to  as  computations  progress,  and  from  time 
to  time,  as  it  covers  a  number  of  the  regular  atlas  sheets,  will  be  pub- 
lished, as  well  as  the  geographical  positions,  obtained  by  triangulation, 
of  prominent  points.  The  number  of  triangulation  stations  of  the  highest 
grade  increases  each  year,  and  especially  in  areas  where  more  numerous 
observations  b'ecome  necessary  in  order  to  gather  data  for  delineation  on 
maps  of  the  larger  scales.  As  usual,  the  areas  occupied  in  the  expedi- 
tions of  1876  and  1877  follow  strictly  those  authorized  by  the  Chief  of 
Engineers  and  the  honorable  the  Secreta*jy"  of  War,  in  pursuance  of 
projects  submitted  by  the  officer  in  charge,  and  are  all  laid  within  that 
part  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States  lying  west  of  the  one-hundredth 
meridian,  as  shown  upon  the  progress  map,  and  over  which  it  is  contem- 
plated that  topographical  surveys  in  detail  commensurate  with  the  char-' 
acter  and  development  of  the  various  sections  shall  be  prosecuted  to 
completion. 

The  topographical  assistants  are  now  required  to  add  to  their  notes 
careful  data  showing  the  natural  resources  of  the  region  traversed,  in 
order  to  collect  information  as  to  the  general  character  and  value  of  the 
areas  still  belonging  to  the  Government,  and  it  appears  that  the  relative 
areas  of  arable,  timber,  grazing,  mineral,  and  arid  lands  may  be  described 
and  delineated. 

The  noticeable  topographical  results  inaugurated  during  the  year  are 
about  Lake  Tahoe,  in  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  topography  of  which,  from 
data  now  gathered,  warrant  a  projection  on  a  scale  of  1  inch  to  1  mile, 
which  has  been  completed  at  the  hands  of  a  special  party  engaged  upon 
the  high  jjeaks  and  along  the  divides  of  the  water  courses  of  this  pecu- 
liarly interesting  lake  region. 

The  plane-table  sheets  covering  the  entire  Comstock  mining  district 
are  drawn  upon  a  scale  of  1  inch  to  500  feet,  and  will,  after  reduction, 
serve  as  a  complete  and  connected  contour  map  of  this  region  so  abun- 
dant in  the  precious  metals. 

As  usual,  when  practicable,  connections  have  been  made  with  main  and 
minor  points  of  the  land  survey  and  monuments  built  in  all  cases  of  due 
importance.  The  areas  covered  by  the  expedition  of  1876  are  noted 
upon  the  progress  map  as  parts  of  atlas  sheets  47,  48,  56,  61,  62,  70,  77, 
and  78.  Portions  of  the  following  basins  are  embraced,  the  "Great  In- 
terior Basin,"  and  those  of  the  Arkansas  and  Rio  Grande  Rivers,  as  well 
as  the  headwaters  of  a  number  of  streams  lining  the  western  slopes  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada  between  the  latitudinal  limits  noted  on  the  progress 
sheet.  The  gauge  of  the  success  of  the  expedition  is  better  shown  by 
the  number  and  charact^r  of  the  observations  made  at  the  main  geo- 


APPENDIX    NN.  *  1219 

grapbical  stations  than  by  the  area  covered,  although  the  hitter  is  not 
inconsiderable  for  so  short  a  season. 

A  measured  and  developed  base  was  laid  out  in  the  Carson  Valley^ 
and  connected  with  the  astronomical  station  established  in  1873  at  Vir- 
ginia City,  Nev.  A  description  of  the  apparatus  and  method  employed, 
by  Dr.  Kumpf,  being  somewhat  typical  of  that  adopted  for  use  upon  the 
survey,  is  herewith  given. 

DESCRIPTION   OF  MEASURINa-ROD. 

The  rod  was  decided  upon  by  the  officer  in  charge  in  the  winter  of 
lS7o-'7G,  upon  consultation  with  Dr.  Kampf,  and  constructed  by  Mr. 
Edward  Kahler.  It  was  made  of  wood,  20  feet  in  length,  strengthened 
by  a  vertical  cross-piece.  Each  end  of  the  rod  is  provided  with  a  scale 
8  inches  long,  subdivided  to  jl^  of  an  inch,  so  that  by  a  magnifier  it 
can  be  read  to  thousandths.  At  a  point  near  the  center  an  arc  of  a  cir- 
cle of  30°  extension  is  fastened.  An  arm  attached  to  the  center  of  the 
circle,  and  movable  by  a  micrometer-screw,  carries  a  level,  so  that  after 
determining  the  zero-point  on  the  face  of  the  circle  the  inclination  of  the 
rod  can  be  easily  read  to  5  minutes.  The  rod  is  placed  for  measurement 
on  two  iron-plates,  weighing  about  30  pounds  each,  and  provided  with 
three  strong  iron  pins  2  inches  long.  In  the  center  of  the  plate,  on  an 
elevated  silver  plane,  is  drawn  a  cross-line,  which  acts  in  the  nature  of 
the  zero-point  of  the  line. 

METHOD   OF   COIVIPARISON. 

The  rod  was  compared  daily,  both  before  and  after  its  use,  with  two 
steel  standard  rods,  constructed  by  the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  and 
of  a  normal  length  of  5  feet,  at  the  temperature  of  Gl^.G  F.  In  place 
of  the  rod  constructed  by  Mr.  Kahler,  a  similar  one,  not  quite  20  feet 
long,  politely  furnished  by  Mr.  Adolf  Sutro,  of  Sutro,  i^ev.,  consisting 
of  very  well  seasoned  and  varnished  wood,  was  used.  A  very  simple 
apparatus  was  used,  constructed  for  comparison,  the  standard  steel  rods 
being  supported  on  two  wooden  blocks,  and  therefore  elevated  by  the 
thickness  of  this  support  from  the  plane  of  me.isurement,  two  knife- 
blades  were  driven  in  a  wooden  board,  22  by  IJ  feet  by  4  inches,  being 
as  much  above  the  surface  of  the  board  as  the  polished  plane  at  the  end 
of  the  normal  rod.  The  center  of  the  sharp  blade  and  the  plane  of  the 
normal  rod  were  brought  into  the  same  vertical  plane,  and  by  an  assist- 
ant is  kept  in  this  position  until  the  second  rod  is  brought  in  contact 
with  the  first.  Thus  continuing,  the  fourth  rod  was  found  to  reach  over 
the  knife-blade  about  IJ  inches.  A  square  block  of  wood  was  placed 
at  the  end,  in  contact  with  the  normal  rod,  and  by  means  of  a  small 
measure,  3  inches  long,  and  divided  to  hundredths,  the  distance  from 
the  square  block  of  wood  to  the  blade  of  the  knife  was  read,  the  tem- 
I)erature  being  always  carefully  noted  and  the  measurement  repeated. 

The  readings  were  made  by  Dr.  Kampf  and  his  assistant.  After 
determining  the  distance  between  two  points  on  the  edges  of  the  knife- 
blades,  the  measuring-rod  was  placed  on  top  of  the  blades  with  the 
utmost  care,  and  the  scale  on  both  ends  read.  In  this  manner  the 
amount  of  over-lapping  of  the  rod  was  obtained. 

Observation  made  October  11,  1876,  between  knife-blades,  20  feet 
1.537  inches,  55o.8  Fahrenheit ;  reading  of  scales  on  rod,  east  end,  0.420 
inch;  west  end,  0.140  inch;  therefore  the  length  of  the  rod  was  deter- 
mined to  be  20  feet  -f  0.997  inch,  at  o5o.8  Fahrenheit. 


1220  REPORT    OP    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

DESCRIPTION  OF   METHOD  OF  MEASUREMENT. 

Dr.  Kampf  was  aided  in  the  measurement  by  Mr.  Louis  Seckels  and 
two  laborers.  The  work  was  divided  among  the  party  as  follows:  The 
line  was  laid  out  in  advance  for  one  day's  work,  marked  by  iron  pins  2 
feet  in  length  and  about  180  feet  apart.  The  base  was  measured  on  an 
old  road,  laid  out  about  ten  years  ago,  and  running  in  a  straight  line  for 
a  distance  of  3f  miles.  A  tine  line  was  tied  to  one  pin  and  fastened  to 
the  next  one.  Two  plates  were  laid  down  within  the  distance  of  20  feet 
2  inches,  approximately,  so  that  they  were  parallel  with  the  line  and 
tangent  to  it.  One  laborer  takes  the  measuring-rod,  bringing  it  near 
the  ])lates,  and  the  assistant  being  at  the  rear  end,  the  laborer  on  the 
other,  both  grasp  the  rod  at  the  same  time  and  put  it  on  top  of  the  plates 
y|o  of  an  inch  distant  from  the  cross  on  the  ridge  of  the  plates.  Mr. 
kSeckels  reads  the  rear  end  of  the  scales  at  the  same  time  that  Dr.  Kampf 
reads  at  the  front  end  by  means  of  a  common  magnifying-glass.  The 
readings  are  then  at  once  recorded.  After  that  the  level  was  read  by 
Dr.  Kampf  and  simultaneously  with  Mr.  Seckels,  who  is  now  at  the  front 
end.  He  reads  the  rear  end  of  the  scales,  and  the  readings  are  recorded 
by  both.  Then  the  readings  are  called  out  and  in  case  of  disagreement 
repeated.  In  the  meanwhile  the  other  laborer  x)uts  an  auxiliary  rod  of 
20  feet  2  inches  in  the  position,  so  that  the  rear  end  may  be  in  line  with 
the  mark  on  the  plate  driving  the  third  plate  in  the  ground.  When  the 
readings  are  finished  the  new  plate  is  found  in  its  proper  position,  the 
laborer  brings  the  rods  in  front  of  both  plates,  and  the  operation  is  re- 
peated. The  other  laborer  takes  meanwhile  the  first  plate  put  down 
and  brings  it  to  the  front,  as  No.  4.  The  thermometer  is  read  from  time 
to  time  on  the  shady  and  snnny  side  of  the  rod,  to  obtain  its  tempera- 
ture. After  a  reasonable  practice  the  rate  of  measurement  may  be  as- 
sumed as  20  feet  for  each  interval  of  one  and  one-half  minutes. 

CO-EFFICIENT   OF  EXPANSION. 

The  steel  rods  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey  are  of  normal 
length  at  the  temperature  of  Gl^.G  F.  By  means  of  the  co  efficient 
of  expansion  for  one  degree,  as  given  in  Lee's  tables,  the  distance  of  20 
feet  is  reduced  by  applying  the  temperature  of  the  time  of  comparison, 
and  thereby  the  distance  between  both  knife-blades  is  obtained.  To 
this  is  added  the  readings  of  the  scales  of  the  rod,  and  the  length  of  the 
rod  for  the  observed  temperature  is  found.  The  mean  of  the  observa- 
tions at  low  and  high  temperatures  are  taken,  and  from  the  difference  of 
both  lengths  the  factor  of  expansion  is  derived,  as  shown  in  the  next 
table.  The  rod  having  been  heavily  saturated  in  a  rain  and  snow  storm 
on  October  11,  the  observations  taken  afterward  are  not  used  for 
determination  of  expansion.  The  length  of  the  rod  was  found  from  the 
comparisons  to  be  20"  0'«.9408  for  6I0.6  F. 


APPENDIX    NN. 
Comparisons  at  low  temiyeraiare. 


1221 


- 

a 

o 

^ 

Ci 

^ 

rt 

4.3   . 

50   . 

3 

p 

p 

3 

Date. 

«  bC 

^z 

.5  3 

-*.s 

t 

-S.S 

"J 

"S  ® 

u 

s 

rt-^S 

c'*:' 

^  rf 

o 

:s2 

•J3  0 

-s."^ 

o 

c 

o 
H 

'S 

a 
O 

< 

OT 

o 

1876. 

0 

Inch. 

Inch. 

Inch. 

Inch. 

Inch. 

14  1 

1  4950 

0  02 '5 

1  5165 

0  4950 

1  0215 

24 

—  G.  6 

—1.  4950 

—0.0101 

—1.  5051 

0.  4940 

—1.0111 

25 

—10.3 

-1.4!t60 

-0.0157 

—1.5117 

0.  4980 

—1.  0137 

26 

—  7.6 

—1.  5150 

—0.0116 

—1.5266 

0.  5050 

—1.  0216 

27 

—10.6 

—1.  5000 

—0.  0162 

—1.5162 

0.  5070 

—1.  0092 

23 .* 

—  3.  1 

—  1.5150 

—0.  0047 

—1.5197 

0.  5170 

—1.  0027 

29 

—  8.8 

—1.  51110 

—0.  0134 

—1.  .5234 

0.  5270 

—0.  9964 

30 

—  6.6 

—1.  5230 

—0.  0101 

—1.  5331 

0.  5320 

— l.dOll 

October    1 

—  7.8 

—1.5260 

—0.0119 

—  1.  5379 

0  5390 

—1.  0079 

2 

-2.4 

—1.  5340 

—0.  0037 

—  1.5377 

0.  5390 

—0.  9987 

3 

—  9.6 

— 1.  51ri0 

—0.0146 

—I.  5326 

0.  5350 

—0.  9976 

4 

9  6 

1  5350 

— 0  0146 

— 1  5196 

0  5410 

I  0086 

5 

—  9.6 
—10.  2 

—1.  5330 
—1.  5330 

—0.  0140 
—0.0.' ,56 

—1.  5476 
—1.  54S6 

0.  5390 
0.  .5410 

]  0086 

6 

—1.  0076 

—  5.6 

—1.  5440 

—0.  00^5 

— 1.  5525 

0.5410 

—1.0115 

8 

+  0.4 
—13.  0 

—1.  5.5>'0 

+0.  0006 

—1.  5574 

0.  5490 

1.  0784 

10 

— 1.5450 

—0.0198 

—1.  5648 

p.  5590 
0.  5600 

1.  0058 

11 

—  5.8 

—1.  5370 

—0.  0088 

—1.  5453 

—0.  9858 

11 

—  2.6 

—  1.  53T0 

—0.  0l!40 

—1.5410 

0.5410 

1.  0000 

llean  lenfctb  of  rod  at  54^  5  F.  =  20  feet—  1.0062  inch. 


Comparisons  at  high  ttmpcrature. 


Bate. 


1876, 

September  23 

21 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

October         1 

2 

3 

4 

5 , 

6 

7 

8 

10 


+51.4 

—36.4 

--39.  4 

--48,4 

--23.4 

+11.4 

+22.  0 

+47.9 

+11.4 

+00.  4 

+44. 

+52. 

+60. 

+.56. 

+18. 

+  17. 


+33.4 


Inch. 
-I.  5500 
-1.  5450 
-1.  5.140 
-1.  5320 
-1.  5350 
-1.  5480 
-1.  .5390 
-1.  5650 
-1.5410 
-1.  5640 
-1.  5750 
-1.  5750 
-1.  5880 
-1.  5740 
-1.  57:!0 
-1.5740 
-1.  £750 


Inch. 

+0.  0784 

+0.  0555 

0.  0601 

0.  0739 

— 0.  0357 

— 0.  0220 

0.  0336 

+0.  0731 

— 0.  0174 

— 0.  09:22 

I).  0677 

0.  0.-00 

0.  0922 

+0.  0861 

-1-0.  0-281 

-f  0.  0266 

+0.  0509 


.i 

r 

^ 

'^ 

,aj  . 

o 

^'r-' 

a(M 

Is 

-r  t< 

■■^■'i 

g 

c_, 

0 

a 

^ 

M 

Inch. 

Inch. 

-1.  4716 

0.5110 

-1.  4895 

0.  5050 

-1.  4939 

0.  5200 

-1.  4,581 

0.5180 

-1.  4993 

0.  5220 

-1.  5200 

0.  ,5280 

-1.  5054 

0.  5320 

-1.  4910 

0.  5390 

-1.  ,5236 

0.5410 

-1.4718 

0.  5540 

-1.  5073 

0.  5420 

-1.4950 

0.  54.50 

-1.  4958 

0.  .5510 

-1.  4879 

0.  5960 

-1.  5449 

0.  5420 

-1.  5476 

0.  5510 

-1.  5241 

0.  5620 

Mean  length  of  rod  at  993.0  F.  =20  feet-  0.90616  incb. 

Expan.slon  of  rod  for  44=. 5  F.  =  0.04004  incb. 
Expansion  of  rod  for    1°.0  F.  =O.UU0U0  inch. 


1222 


REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 


REDUCTION   OF   OBSERVATIONS. 

The  following  corrections  are  applied  to  the  number  of  rods  multiplied 
by  20  feet : 

(1)  Difference  of  rod  from  20  feet  at  mean  temperature  of  all  observa- 
tions multiplied  by  the  number  of  rods  measured. 

(2)  Eeadings  of  both  ends  of  wooden  rod  when  lying  on  the  plates. 

(3)  Correction  for  inclination. 

The  following  table  contains  the  corrections  for  (1): 

First  incasurement. 


First  measurement,  1,181  rods—  1,155.2558  inches. 


Date. 

g 
a 
"S 

a 

a 
<a 

1. 

go 

September  23 . 

88 
80 
89 
81) 
65 
81 
89 
84 
92 
94 
93 
85 

104 
104 

54 
109 
102 
104 
111 
105 

98 
108 
110 

72 

Inches. 
101  5487 

24 

102  1987 

25 •. ... 

52  6305 

26 

106  ."1279 

27 

101  6022 

28 

—  102  1061 

29 

108  2337 

30 

102  9000 

Ocl-Jbrr    1 

—  95  3392 

o 

104  8724 

3 

106  8146 

4 

—  70.4318 

Second  measurement. 


6 

m 

p 

o 

s§ 

f 

'O 

0  o 

Date. 

o 
ft 

a 

CD 

a 

0  O 

a 

1^ 

w 

Inches. 

October  5 

92 
97 

144 

151 

144  8357 

6 

146. 1710 

7 

92.5 

152 

147.  7516 

8 

83 

1.50 

151.9837 

10 

88 

145 

141.  5302 

11 

58 

129 

129.  3945 

17 

63 

143 

139.4297 

13 

57 

150 

141  7125 

Second  measnreruent,  1,179  rods  —  1,142,4090  inches. 


APPENDIX    NX. 


1223 


DEOUCTIOX  OF   RESULTS   OF  LENGTHS   OF   BASE   XEAR  SUTRO,   NET. 

First  Second 

.  measuvement.    nieasuiement. 

Snm  of  corrections  for  (1) —  90.  2713  —  95.  2007 

Sum  of  corrections  for  ("2) —101.  2500  —  62.2997 

Sum  of  corrections  for  (3) —     1.1624  —    1.1492 

Sum  of  corrections —198.684.3  —158.0496 

Number  of  rods  multiplied  by  20  feet 23020.  0000  235H0.  0000 

Length  of  base 23421.3157  23421.3504 

Mean 23421.333 

Reduction  to  level  of  the  sea —      4. 946 

Resulting  length,  (feet) 23410.387 

ROUTES   OF  COMIVIUNICATION. 

A  small  number  of  tables  of  distances  taken  from  the  road-measure- 
ments of  1S7G  are  herewith  given. 

In  each  subsequent  annual  report  the  routes  joining  the  main  termi- 
nal points  of  lines  of  present  or  prospective  importance  will  be  given, 
and  the  consolidated  table  mentioned  in  my  last  annual  report  will  soou 
be  made  more  complete  and  forwarded  for  publication. 

During  the  year  a  number  of  distances  between  military  posts,  prin- 
cipally in  the  departments  of  the  Missouri  and  Arizona,  have  been  fur- 
nished to  the  Paymaster-General,  United  States  Army. 

LIST  OF  ROAD-DIST.\:jfCES  BETWEEN  PROMINENT  POINTS  MEANDERED   BY  PARTY  NO.    1, 

COLORADO   SECTION,  1876. 

La  Junta  to  Pueblo. 

Pueblo  to  Caiiou  and  Florissant. 

Florissant  to  Fair  Play. 

Fair  Play  to  South  Arkansas  Post  Office. 

South  Arkansas  Post  Office  to  Mosca  Creek  Forks. 

Mosca  Creek  to  Eosita. 

Rosita  to  Caiiou  City. 

Canon  City  to  Colorado  Springs. 

From  La  Junta,  Colo.,  to  Pueblo  Post  Office,  Colo. — Atlas-sheet  Xo.  62. 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

o 

a 

<i 

S  '^ 

3 

1 

Remarks. 

tS 

a 

o  aj 

S  s 

ij 

Ph 

■3 

fe-*3 

a 

a 

« 

f^ 

f^ 

-< 

La  .Junta,  Colo 

65  05 

4  094 

No  wood  or  grass  near  town. 

Texas  Bend 

4.78 
6.76 

4.78 
11  54 

60.27 
53.51 

4,169 

Eockv  Ford 

13.49 

25.  03 

40  02 

4,266 

Huerfano  River 

19.19 

44.  23 

20.83 

4,324 

Old  Fort  Remolds 

2.  60 

46  82 

18.23 

Fork  of  road  to  Pueblo  and  South 

12.  27 

59.09 

5.96 

Pueblo. 

5.36 
0.60 

South  Pneblo,  lo'wfirbrido'e 

64.45 
65.05 

0.60 

4,584 

Pueblo  Post  Office 

Road  along  south  bank  of  Arkansas  River. 


1224        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

From  PueUo,  Colo.,  to  Canon  and  Florissant. — Atlas-sheet  No.  62. 


Distance  in  miles. 

-i 

1-3 

ID 
< 

P 

§.s 

II 

M 

6 
o 

B 

a 

2 

o-ii 

Remarks. 

Pueblo  Post-OfBce 

12.64 

8.26 
10.17 
1.46 
3.75 
3.05 
8.25 
3.90 
5.57 

.'i.  13 
3.10 

3.eo 

3.84 
4.50 
8.73 

4.50 

12.64 
20.90 
31.07 
32.53 
36.28 
39.33 
47.58 
51.  48 
57.05 

62.18 
65.  28 

69.  OS 
73.  92 
77.  4-2 
80.15 

90.65 

90.65 

78.01 
69.75 
59.58 
58.12 
54,37 
51.32 
43.07 
39.17 
33.60 

28.47 
25.37 

21.57 

17.73 

13.23 

4.50 

4,584 

4,947 
5,148 

"5,241' 
5,  325 
6,271 
0,019 
7,161 

7,401 
8,439 

8,401 
8,259 
7,924 
8,790 

8,184 

Grass  and  fuel  along  river- 
bottom. 

Big  Turkey  Creek 

Ute  Creek 

Eight-mile  Creek 

Oil  Creek 

Caiion  City  Post  Office 

Porks  of  road,  (Pleasant  Valley) 

Currant  Creek,  (12-mile  ranch) 

Eighteen-mile  Eanoh,  forks  of  road 

to  Fair  Play. 
South  Fork  Wilson  Creek 

. 

Divide  between  Wilsou  and  High 

Creek. 
Crossing  High  Creek 

Good  graa.s.  fuel,  and  water. 
Vallev  fenced  in. 

Do. 
Good  grass  and  water. 

Good  grass,  water,  and  fuel. 

Settlement  ou  west  fork  Oil  Creek  .. 

Down  west  fork  to  near  mouth 

Up  Oil  Creek  to  Summit,  Twin  Creek 

Pass. 
Florissant  Post  Office 

From  Florissant,Colo.,  to  Fair  Play, Colo.jVia  Tarryall  Creelc. — Atlas-sheet  Xos.  62,53,  and  52. 


Distance  in  miles. 

Altitude    in  feet  above 
sea- level. 

0 

a  '^ 

1 

0 

a 

g 

0 

Eh 

Remarks. 

Florissant  Post-Office 

4.97 

7.47 

15.23 

7.90 
3.67 

4.  SO 

5.  16 

7.26 
4.24 

'""4."97' 
12.44 

27.67 
35.57 
39.  24 

44.14 

49.30 

56.  56 
60.80 

60.80 
55.83 
48.36 

33.13 
25.  2  f 
21.  56 

16.66 

11.50 

4.24 

8,184 
7,978 
8,226 

8,807 
9,035 
9,  239 

9,298 

9,713 

9,  958 
9,  929 

South  Platte  Bridge 

Camp.     Grass,    wood,    and 
water. 
Do. 

Duck  Lake 

Fork  of  road  to  Fair  Play 

Up  Rock  Creek  to  the  point  where 
the  road  leaves  the  creek. 

Confluence  Michigan  and  Jefferson 
Creek. 

Tarryall  Kiver  bridge  below  Hamil- 
ton, (by  the  shortest  trail.) 

Summit  road 

>  No  wood  near  road. 

*^ 

Wood  scarce,  grass  medium, 
watergood.  "Hayandgrain 
for  sale  in  town. 

Fair  Play  Post  Office 

The  above  road  is  not  the  shortest  road  between  Florissant  and  Fair  Play, 
near  the  South  Platte  bridge. 


The  stage-road  leaves  it 


APPENDIX    NN. 
From  Fair  Fldi/,  Colo.,  to  South  Arkansas  Post  Office. 


1225 


-Atlas-sheet  Xos.  52  and  61. 


FairPlay  Post  Office 

Four-niilo  Creek 

Kanch  on  Dry  Creek 

South  Fork  South  Platte  Kivor 

Buffalo  Springs 

Salt- Works 

Divide  between  Platte  and  Arkansas 

Rivers. 

Riverside  Post  Office 

Springs,  Tront  Creek 

Fork  of  roads  up  and  down  Arkansas 

River. 

Arkansas  Bridge 

Cbalk  Creek 

Centreville  Post  Office 

Brown's  Creek 

Three-mile  Creek 

Sqnan  Creek 

South  Arkansas  Post  Office 


Distance  in  miles. 


3.77 
5.  55 
2.65 
4.41 
4.16 

3.47 

2.14 

2. 18 
8.18 

3.15 
2.16 
2.38 
1.40 

2.29 
5.70 
5.48 


3.77 

9.  32 

11.97 

16.  38 

20.54 

24.  01 

2fi.  15 
28.  33 
36.51 

39.  66 
41.  82 
44.20 
45.  60 
47.89 
.53.  59 
59.07 


o  o 

3  « 


59.07 
55.30 
49.  75 
47.10 
42.  69 
38.53 

35.06 

32.  92 
so!  74 
22.56 

19.41 
17.25 
14.87 
13.47 
11.18 
5.48 


9,928 
9,  670 
9,  317 
9,  161 
8,  952 
8,969 

9,464 

9,144 

8,903 
7,937 

7,741 
7,  729 
7,  690 
7,  828 
7,  926 
7,279 
7,383 


Remarks. 


Camp.    Grass  nnd  water,  but 
no  wood.    Hill  moderate. 


Good  bridge. 
1 

}  Grass  and  wood  .scarce. 

) 

Wood  and  water  good.    Poor 

grass. 


From  South  Arkansas  Post  Office  to  Mosca  Creek,  fork  of  roads. — Atlas-sheet  Xo.  61. 


South  Arkansas  Post-Office 

Toll-gate 

Summit  Puncho  Pass 

Round  Mountain  Ranch  PostOfflce 

Hall's,  Kerber  Creek 

Bismarck  Post  Office 

Major  Creek 

Wild  Cherry  Creek 

Rito  Alto  Post  Office 

San  Irabel  Post  Office 

Crestones  Creek 

Willow  Creek 

Cottonwood  Creek 

Deadman  Creek 

Sandhill  Creek,  (old  Star  ranch)  . . . 

Spring  Creek 

Mosca  Creek 


Distance  in  miles. 


oS 


3.42 
4.63 
2.67 
11.81 
8.10 
2.46 
3.24 
2.08 
3.  74 
3.12 
2.75 
2.00 
2.30 
9.60 
1.  55 
1.64 


3.42 

8.05 
10.72 
22.  53 
30.  63 
33.09 
36.  33 
38.41 
42.  15 
45.  27 
48.  02 
50.  02 
««2.  32 
61.92 
63.47 
65.11 


6.5. 11 
61.69 
57.06 
54.39 
42.  58 
34.48 
32.02 
28.78 
26.70 
22.  96 
19.84 
17.09 
15.  09 
12.  79 
3.19 
1.64 


7,383 

8,216 
8,945 
8,  7.i2 
7,  900 
7,736 
7,686 
7.431 
7,  45i4 
7,537 
7,517 

'7,' 566' 

'■7,' 587' 
7,560 
7,549 


Remarks. 


>  Puncho  Pass. 


Gra?s  poor  and  wood  scarce 
near  road ;  better  grass 
and  wood  in  abundance 
found  in  the  foot-hills  of 
Sangre  de  Cristo  Range. 


Road  very  sandy. 


Board  throngh  Puncho  Pass  is  kept  in  good  condition. 


1226        EEPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

From  Mosca  Creelc  to  Eosita,  Colo. — Atlas-sheets  No.  61  and  6*2. 


Mosca  Creek,  fork  of  roads 

Kanch,  western  entrance  to  Mosca 
Pass. 

Sum  mit  Mosca  Pass 

Fork  of  roads  to  Gardner's 

Intersection,  creek  and  cross-road. . . 

Muddy  River,  forks  of  road 

Divide  between  Arkansas  and  Huer- 
fano Rivers. 

"Forks  of  road  to  Colfax 

Forks,  U-la  road 

Rosita  and  U-la  road 

Rosita 


_ 

Distance  in  miles. 

^ 

1 

^ 

-g 

.t. 

§2 

5 

(0 

C.5 

ZS 

c-r 

o  o 

•"  S3 

p  "^ 

o 

o 

S>  IS 

<L    f. 

^ 

M 

^■B 

B 

a 

n 

f^ 

f^ 

^ 

7.73 

43.01 

7,  549 

7.73 

35.28 

8,172 

3.22 
5.13 
6.90 
2.  .52 
4.43 

10.95 

32.06 

9,787 

16.08 

26.93 

8,805 

22.  98 

20.03 

7,977 

2.5.  50 

17.51 

7,916 

29.  93 

13.08 

8,428 

4.82 
2.64 
2.76 
2.  SB 

34.75 

8.26 

8,223 

37.39 

5.62 

8,174 

40.15 

2.86 

8,327 

43.01 

8,717 

Remarks. 


Camp.  Grass  poor ;  wood  and 

water  good. 
Road  good  through  pass. 


Good  wood,  grass,  and  water 
near  town ;  hay  and  grain 
for  sale. 


This  is  the  old  road  from  Mosca  Pass  to  Rosita,  and  is  now  practicable  only  for  lightly-loaded  wagons 


From  Rofiita,  Colo,,  to  Canon  City,  Colo. — Atlas-sheet  No.  62. 


Rosita 

Oak  Creek,  (blacksmith-shop) 

York  ville 

Point  where  road  leaves  Oak  Creek. . 

Summit  road 

Forks  of  road,  Canon  City  and  Labran 

Crossing  Milk  Creek 

Arkansas  River  bridge , 

Caiion  City  Post  Office 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

■% 

s 

t>» 

^ 

<D      . 

3 

§"3 

il 

■1 
.1 

1 

o 

O  o 

M 

o 

13 

g 

a 

B 

« 

Eh 

Ph 

< 

13.56 
2.51 
5.11 
0.91 
0.44 
3.27 
4.45 
0.51 

30.76 

8,717 

13.  56 

17.20 

7,987 

16.07 

14.69 

7,  Til 

21.18 

9.58 

6,105 

22.  09 

8.67 

6,  829 

22.  53 

8.23 

6,678 

25.80 

4.96 

5,939 

30.25 

0.51 

5,  302 

30.76 

5,325 

Remarks. 


Post  Office. 


This  is  the  stage-road  between  Cauon  City  and  Eosita.    Grades  are  easy  and  road  in  good  condition. 


APPENDIX    NN. 
From  Canon  City,  Colo.,  to  Colorado  Springs. — Alias-sheet  No.  62. 


1227 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

o 

43      . 

«  > 

o 

"-  a 
<a 

3 

< 

s 
u 

§.a 

|| 
» 

a 

O 

CS 

a 

2 

Eh 

o 

H 

o 

Bemarks. 

2.24 

0.81 
4.  4rt 
2.14 
6.61 

9.33 
2.50 
2.61 
1.13 
2.21 
10  39 
0.94 

2.24 
3.05 
7.  .53 
9.67 
16.23 

25.61 
28.11 
30.  72 
31.85 
34.06 
44.45 
45.39 

45.39 

43.15 
42.  34 
37.86 
35.  72 
29.11 

19.78 
17.  28 
14.67 
1.3.  54 
11.33 
0.94 

5,325 

"5,241' 
5,540 

"'s.'gso' 

6,480 
6,  519 
6,180 
6,109 
6,000 
5.875 
5,946 

Corrals  in  town  ;  no  wood  or 

grass  near  town. 

Oil  Croek 

No  bridge. 

Eight-mile  Creek 

Camp.  Grass  scarce ;  wood 
and  water  in  abundance. 

Fork  Big  Turkey  Creek 

Bi"' Turkey  Creek    

Weat  Fork  Little  Fountain  Creek  . . . 
Conflueuco.  east  and  west  forks 

Colorado  Springs,  center  of  town 

Animals  in  corrals ;  grain  and 
teed  purchased. 

This  is  not  the  usually-traveled  road  bstweau  Caiioa  City  aud  Colorado  Springs;  it  is  called  the 
"short  cut,"  but  is  impracticable  for  heavily-loaded  wagiius  batweeu  Beaver  Creek  Crossing  aud  Big 
Turkey  Creek. 


LIST  OF  KOAD-DISTANCES   BETWEEN  PROMIXEXT   POINTS,  MEANDERED   BY   TAUTY  XO.  2 

COLORADO   SECTION,    1376. 

Trinidad  to  Santa  Fe. 

Fort  Lyou  to  Trinidad. 

Santa  Fe  to  Tejique. 

Socorro  to  Las  Lnnas. 

Valencia  to  Socorro. 

Socorro  to  Fort  Craig. 

Socorro  to  Guiuisa. 

Ojo  de  las  Casas  to  Las  Lunas. 

Pederual  to  Manzauo. 

Tejique  to  Pederual. 

Pedernal  to  Anton  Chico. 

Antelope  Spring  to  Los  Pesos. 

Tangues  de  Juan  Lojair  to  Cieuega  de  Tula. 

Anton  Chico  to  Fort  Lyou. 


1228 


REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 


From  Trinidad,  Colo.,  to  Santa  Fe,  N.  ilex.,  via  Lonrfs  Canon  and  Taos  Pass. — AtJa^s-slieefa 

70A,  70C,  and  6dD. 


Trinidad 

JuDoiious  Lonu's  Creek  and  Purgatory. 
Long's  Caiion  Pass 


Vermejo  Greet,  Cameron's . 

"Van  Brumraer  Park 

Ponil  Creek 

South  Fork  Ponil  Creek. .. 

Ponil  Pass 

Elizabethtown 

Six-mile  Croek 

ivenned.y's  Eanch 

Taos  Pass 


llouth  of  Fernandez  Creek 

Kancliofl  rte  Taos 

Junction  with  Govemnaent  road. 
Cineijuilla 


Plaza  del  Alcalde. 


Piieblo  de  San  Juan 

Santa  Crusi 

Pojoaque 

Cuyamunque 

Tesuque  

SaiitaF6 


Distance  in  miles. 


0.5 


6.54 
21.51 

IP.  34 
13.66 
6.00 
7.05 
6.09 
4.33 
7.25 
7.71 
2.06 

14.43 

4.07 
5.34 

8.28 

23.30 

2.94 
4.22 
7.27 
27.  24 
5.  096 
9.348 


6.54 
28.05 

46.39 
60.05 
66.05 
73.10 
80.09 
84.  42 
91.67 
99.38 
101.  44 

11.5.  87 
119.  94 
125.  26 
133.  56 

156.  86 

159.  80 
164.  02 
171.  29 
174.01 
179. 11 
188.  46 


188.  46 
181.92 
160.41 

142.  07 

128.  41 

122.41 

115.  36 

108.  37 

104.  04 

96.79 

89.08 

87.02 

72.59 
68.  52 
63.18 
54.90 

31.60 

23.66 
24.44 
17.17 
14.45 
9.35 


8,402 

7, 133 
8,  557 


8,332 
9,848 


8,450 


6,011 
5,756 
5,870 


Remarks. 


Town;  Govornmeut  agency. 

Ranches. 

Good     grazinp; ;    water     in 

spring  bolow  summit. 
Ranches. 

Lakes ;  fair  grazing. 
Good  grazing. 
Poor  grazing. 
Good  grazing. 
Mining  town. 
Good  grazing;  ranches. 
Deserted;  wood, water, grass. 
Wood,   water,   grass,  below 

summit. 
Poor  grazing. 
Mexican  town ;  forage. 

Mexican   town ;    wood    and 
water. 

Government  agency;  Mexi- 
can town. 

Government  agency. 
Do. 
Do. 

Mexican  town. 

Indian  pueblo. 

Military  post ;  large  town. 


The  road  is  practicable  for  wagons.    Descending  to  Vermejo  Creek  there  is  a  steep  hill  for  half  a 


mile 


From  Fort  Lyon,  Colo.,  to  Trinidad,  Colo. — Atlas-sheets  Kos.  62CI>  and  70A. 


Fort  Lyon 

Purgatory  River. .. 
West  Las  Animas. 

Sizer's  Ranch 

Alkalis  Station 

Vogel's  Caiion 

Bent's  Caiion 

Lockwood's  Ranch 
Hogback  

Chicoso  Creek 

El  More 

Trinidad,  Colo 


Distance  in  miles. 


3.414 

2.  O'.IO 

6.447 

11.981 

10. 230 

15.  613 

13.  482 

16,  773 

14.  619 

10.  246 
5.145 


.5.  494 
IL  941 
23.  922 

34. 152 

49.  705 
63.  247 
80.  020 

94.  639 

104.  885 

110.030 


18.  428 

28.  658 

44.271 
57.  753 
74.  526 

89. 145 

99.  391 

104.  536 


3,938 


4,040 
4,040 
4, 130 


4,696 
4,  997 
5,423 

5,840 


Remarks. 


Government  post. 

Poor  grazing. 

Town ;  railroad. 

Government  agency. 

Deserted;  poor  water;  little 
wood. 

Deserted;  poor  water;   poor 
grazing. 
Do. 
Do. 

No  wood; 
grass. 

Ranches;  grazing  generally 
eaten  up. 

Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Rail- 
road. 

Town;  forage;   Government 
agency. 


little   water  and 


Country  generally  worthless.    River-bottom  cultivated  ;  water  else 'v here  scarce  and  alkaline.    Bluffs 
wooded  with  piiion  and  cedar.    Grazing  good,  bat  usually  closely  eaten. 


APPENDIX    NX.  1229 

From  Santa  Fe,  N.  Mex.,  to  Tijeras,  X.  Mex. — Atlas-shcet  Xo.  77  B  and  D. 


distance  in  miles. 


Santa  Fe,  ^'■.  Mes. 

Forks  of  road 

San  Marcos  Sprin 

Galisteo  Creek  .., 

Old  Placer 

Fork  roads 

New  Placer 

Fork  roads , 

Sau  Pedro 

San  Antonito 

Canoucito 

Sau  Antonio 

Tijeras 


9.590 
8.951 

3.003 

C.  195 

6.339 

2.900 

1.  553 

7.384 
3.759 
3.028 
2.541 
2.105 


§"3 
til  f» 


Ic?.  541 

21,  544 

27.  739 

34. 078 

36.  984 

38.  537 
45.  921 
49.  680 
52.  708 
55.  249 
57.  354 


57.35 
47.75 
38.80 

35.80 

29.60 

23.27 

20.36 

18.81 

11.43 

7.67 

4.64 

2.10 


6,036 


Remarks. 


Town ;  Government  post. 

Good   ■water;     little    wood; 
good  grass. 

Good  water ;    •wood  plenty  ; 
good  grass. 

Mining  town  ;  little  of  any- 
thing. 

Good  grazing  and  wood;  no 
water. 

Mining    town;     wood    and 
water. 

Good  grazing. 

Desorted. 

Mexican  town. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 


Grazing  in  general,  good;  wood,  cedar  and  pirion,  abundant;  water,  scarce. 

From  Socorro,  X.  Mex.,  northwest  ianlc  Eio  Grande,  to  Las  Lvnas. 


Distance  in  miles. 

1 

o 

•SI 

a; 
«  ffi 

a 

»  . 

a;  30 

c  ♦- 
o  a 
"o 

s? 

d 
u 

o 
o 
o 
CO 

a 
3 

i 

a 
ea 

p 

Remarks. 

4.96 
4.  23 
2.25 
3.42 

7.27 
1.61 
2.42 
3.83 

2.14 
1.07 
2.  32 
3.05 
3.50 

3.69 
1.71 
3.65 
5.76 

4.96 

9.19 

11.44 

14.86 

22. 13 
23.  74 
26.  16 
29.99 

32. 13 
33.20 
35.  53 

38.57 
42.07 

45.76 
47.47 
51.12 

56.88 

56.88 

51.  92 
47  69 
45.44 
42.  02 

34.75 
33.14 
30.72 
26.  89 

24.75 
23.08 
21.  36 
18.31 
14.81 

11.12 
9.41 
5.76 

4,059 
"4,693' 
"'4,' 757 

4,890 
'  "4,921 

Mexican  town,  Government 

agency. 

Limitar 

Do. 
Do. 

Mexican  town.  Government 

agency. 
Mexican  town. 

San  Carlos 

Eio  Piierco 

Do. 

Water. 

Mexican  town,  Government 

Pneblito 

agency. 

Do. 

Ran  chi  t08 

Bosque 

Pueblitos  de  Belen 

Do. 
Do. 

Mexican  town,  Government 

Belen 

agency. 
Do'. 
Mexican  town. 

Do. 

Mexican  town,  Government 

agency. 

1230 


REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 


From  Valencia,  X.  Alex.,  vorilieast  ianl-  Rio  Grande,  to  Socorro,  N.  Mex. — Atlas-sheet  Ko.  77 D. 


Valencia 

Tome 

Eanchitos  de  Tome. . 

Constancia , 

Casa  Colorado , 

Ve.llita 

Cliihuahna 

Las  Nuetrias 

Kancbos 

La  Joya , 

La  Joyita 

Sabiua 

Puehlito  de  la  Parida 

La  Parida 

Socorro 


Distance  iu  miles. 


^•r 


5.28 
1.15 
.3.57 
8.26 
4.80 
1.81 
1.15 
7.12 
3.15 
6.54 
7.05 
4.99 
1.70 
4.21 


6.43 
10.00 

18.26 
23.06 
24.87 
26.02 
33.14 
36.29 
42.  83 
49.88 
54.87 
56.57 
60.78 


60.78 
45.50 
54.35 
50.78 
42.  52 
37.72 
35.  91 
34.76 
27.04 
24.49 
17.95 
10.90 
5.91 
4.21 


4,659 


Remarks. 


Mexican  town. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
DesBFted. 
Ranch. 

Town,  Mexican. 
Town. 


Rio  Grande  Valley :  arable;  generally  entirely  taken  np  witb  ranches.    No  Government  agencies  on 
east  bank. 


From  Socorro,  X.  Mex.,  to  Fort  Craig. — Atlas-sheets  Nos.  77D  and  84A. 


Distance  in  miles. 


Remarks. 


Socorro 

San  Jo86  

San  Antonio 

Sau  Marcial 

From  Fort  Craig  to  Bosquecito. 

Fort  Craig 

Contradero 

La  Mesa 

Valverde 

Bosquecito 


4,659 


5.562 
5.937 
19.  742 


4.098 
I.OUO 
4.295 
2.  3C0 
21.  651 


11.  499 
31.  241 


35.  339 

36.  339 
40.  634 
42.  994 
64.  645 


59.08 
53.14 
33.40 


29.30 
28.30 
24.01 
21.65 


4,619 


Mexican  town,  Government 

agency. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 


Government  post. 
Mexican  town. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 


No  wood  near  the  river.    Graaing  fair.    Little  icihaLited. 


APPENDIX    NN. 


1231 


From  Socorro,  N.  Jlex.,  to  Ojo  de  la  Quinsa. — Atlas-sheets  Nos.  77D  and  77 C. 


bocorro 

Ojo  de  la  Culebra 

Caiion  del  Agna 

Junction  road  from  Socorro 

Jnnclion  road  from  Socorro 

^lain  fork  roads 

Ojo  de  la  Quinsa 


o 

Distance  in  miles. 

t> 

1-3 

o 
H-2 

03     .     , 

if 

g 

o 

.°  a 

a  i=H 

o 

Oa 

Sg 

«2 

& 

3 

a 

a 

o 

-t-> 

fq 

pM 

pq 

<1 

11. 198 

38.88 
27.68 

4,  0.59 
5,707 

8.480 

19.  078 

19.20 

6,833 

C.  559 

26.  237 

12.64 

3.309 
1.  834 

7.494 

29.54 
31.38 

38.88 

9.33 

7.49 

"5,"  673' 

Keiuarks. 


Mexican  town. 

Spring,  ranch,  wood,  water, 
and  grass. 

Wood,  water,  and  grass  abun- 
dant. 

Partially  over ;  no  marked 
trail. 


Eanch,  spring,  no  wood,  poor 
grazing. 


From  Ojo  de  las  Casas,  N.  Mex.,  to  Las  Lunas, — Atlas-sheet  No.  77 D. 


Distance  in  miles. 


Remarks. 


Eio  de  la  Casa... 

Ojuelos 

Junction  road  to  Caiion  Ojito . . 
Crossing  road  from  Heil  Canon 
Crossing  road  from  Hell  Caiion 

Peralta 

Valencia 

Las  Lunas 


5.610 
4.864 
.927 
2.  309 
3.026 
2.  082 
1.  98« 


10.  474 
11.401 
13.  770 
17.  396 

19.  478 
21.464 


21.47 

15.86 

11.00 

10.07 

7.09 

4.07 

1.95 


6,243 


Spring;  wood,  and  fine  graz- 
ing. 
Eanch;  no  wood;  grazing. 

To  Las  Lnnas. 

Mexican  town. 

Do. 
Mexican  town,  Government 
agency. 


From  Pedernal  Water-hole  to  Manzano,  New  Mex. — Atlas-sheet  No.  77 D. 


Distance  in  miles. 


Eemarks. 


Pedernal  Water-hole  . 


1.000 

7.806 
12.  098 
1.775 
1.  349 
4.644 
4.989 
5.426 
3.343 

Ojo  de  Estancia 3  jgg 

Junction  road  to  Mesteiiito ■,^'  j^^jg 

Crossing  road  to  Manzano 2'  173 

Pnnta  del  Agua I  r'  q^^ 

Manzano j 


Junction  road  to  Estancia 

Fork  road  to  Los  Pesos 

Los  Caiioncitos 

Junction  road  from  Los  Pesos . 

Fork  to  Mesteiiito 

Lagnna  de  Sol 

Fork  of  roads 

Junction  road  from  Pedernal . . 


8.806 
20.  904 
22.  679 
24.  028 
28.  674 
33.  603 
39.  089 
42. 432 

45.  553 
57.  420 
59.  593 
64.  664 


64.66 

03.66 
55.  85 
43.75 
41.98 
40.03 
35.99 
31.00 
25.57 
22.  23 

19.10 
7.24 
5.07 


7,140 


6,041 
'6,'i77 


Spring  in  spur  of  peak  to 
south. 


Water-holes,  permanent. 
Salt  lake. 


Eanch ;  forage  and  grazing 
good. 


Mexican  town. 
Do. 


1232        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

From  Tqique,  N.  Mex.,  to  Pedernal  Water-hole.— AtJas-sheet  Ko.  77D. 


Distance  in  miles. 


a 
o 

a 

IS 

o  <« 

g-s 

(D 


H    S 


Tejique •. 

Qjo  de  Estanoia 

(3ross-road  from  Antelope  Spring 

Iload  from  Antelope  Spring 

Junction  road  from  Los  Posoa  . .. 
Pedernal  Water-hole 


17.  794 
4.  .550 
6.857 

13.  419 
1.000 


a 

o 


22.  344 

29.  901 

42.  ()20 

43.  620 


<Q    O 

(SI 
1^ 


Ui 

< 

43.62 

25.83 

6,177 

21.28 

14.42 

1.00 

7,140 

Eemarks. 


Mexican  town. 
Kancli  spring. 


Spring  on  south  spur  from 
peak. 


From  Pedernal  Waicr-lioU  to  Anion  Chico. — Atlas-sheet  Xo.  69D  and  78A. 


Distance  in  miles. 

o 
t- 

o 
,o 
a 

IS 

o-r 

3 

■-(3 

a 

o  2 
a  ft 

W 

Si 
-Si 
(SI 

a 

o 

a" 

o 

Eemarks. 

Pedernal  Water -hole 

11.78 

0.74 
11.73 

18.65 

'"i8.'52' 
30.  25 
48.90 

48.90 

37.12 

30.  38 
18.65 

7,140 

Spring  on  south  spur  from 
peak. 

Water-holes,  not  permanent. 

Grazing  excellent  everywhere;  wood  occurs  on  highest  points,  but  usually  at '^ome  distance  from 
water.    Beyond  Pedernal,  wood  and  grass  abundant. 


From  AntcJojye  Spring  to  Los  Posos  del  Pino. 


Antelope  Spring 

Cross-road  from  Estancia 

Ijaguna  de  Sal 

Tanques  de  las  Caminos 

Junction  main  road  to  Stanton 
Los  Posos  del  Pino 


<s 

Distanco  in  miles. 

> 

-g 

0 

<D 

00 

^ 

§.3 

O 

3m 

o 

IT    ^ 

a 

O   00 

M 

fH 

fH 

< 

8.05 
7.85 
9.93 
9.25 
7.13 

"is."  85 

42. 16 
34.11 
26.31 

6,221 
"6,"64i' 

2.5.  78 

16.38 

35.  03 

7.13 

42. 16 

6,168 

Eemarks. 


Eanch,  Government  agency. 


Water -holes,  not  permanent, 
Eanch,  Government  agency. 


APPENDIX   NN. 


1233 


From  Tanques  de  Juan  Lvjan  to  Cienega  de  Tula. 


Taiiques  tie  Juan  Lujan 

Abo  Pneblo 

Pueblo  de  QuarA 

Piinta  de  Atjua 

Me.stenito 

Cienega  de  Tula 


Distance  in  miles. 


^■= 


7.5.5 
12.93 

0.92 
11.55 

4.46 


5^ 


20.48 
21.40 
32.95 
37.41 


pq 


37.41 
29.80 
16.93 
16.01 
4.46 


o 

<D  00 


6,2C8 


Remarks. 


From  La  Liendre,  K.  Mex.,  to  Fort  Lyon,  Colo. 


Distance  in  miles. 


fc'i: 


Eemarks. 


L»  Liendre  Church 

Head  Canon  del  A  gua 

Camp  71 

Las  Vegas 

Los  A  lamos 

Fort  Uuion 

Collier's  Ranch 

Las  Gallinas 

Apache  Spring 

Ocate  Creek 

Rock  Ranch 

Chico  Spring 

Kiowa  Spring,  Taylor's  Ranch 

Camp  77  (ponds) 

Pinavete  Spring 

Walter's  Ranch 

Emery's 


7.37 
2.  34 


7.37 

9.71 

19.61 

30.91 

49.77 

55.38 

61.99 

72.  73 

82.  35 

94.02 

114.83 

127.  83 

132.  08 

143.  99 

150.  23 

154.  92 


151.92 
147.  55 

145.  21 
135.  31 
124.  01 
ieS.15 
99.54 
92.93 
82.19 
72.  .57 
60.90 
40.09 
27.  09 
22.  84 
10.93 
4.69 


6,353 
6,736 


6,789 
6,715 


5,844 
6,882 
7,226 
7,036 


6,080 


Mexican  town 

Water-holes  and  springs;  de- 
serted houses. 
Water-holes. 

Town ;  Government  agency. 
Town,  Mexican  ;  forage. 
Post. 

Spring,  private. 
Mexican  town. 
No  wood. 

Do. 
Government  agency. 

Do. 
Sprirg ;  no  wood. 
Water  .slightly  brackish. 
Wood  abundant. 
Head  Dry  Ciuiarrrn  Canon. 
Government   agency ;   Dry 
Cimarron. 


From  Anton  Chico  to  Fort  Lyon,  Colo. 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

-= 

6 

rt 

0 

0  » 

O 

=^  > 

ga 

a 

h) 

C—! 

«  3 

(3  ^ 

a 

0 

—  cj 

®  O 

< 

« 

l-% 

g 

g 

■^ 

O 

« 

fc^ 

fs( 

-<) 

2.45 
5.38 
9.35 

'"'2.' 45' 
7.83 

103.  27 
100.  82 
95.44 

6,030 

17.18 

86.09 

5,932 

12.65 
2.56 
9.08 
4.33 

21).  27 
8.90 
7.  92 

11.70 
9.  68 

29.83 

73.  44 

32.  39 

70.  >i8 

4L47 

62.80 

.5,  754 

4.5.  88 

58.47 

CO.  09 

38.20 

4,  523 

74.99 

29.30 

82.^9 

21.38 

94.59 

9.68 

4,035 

104.27 

3,938 

Remarks. 


Emery's  Ranch 

Toll-gate,  Metcalf  8 

Boundary  (nearly) 

Chaquaquo  Canon 

Fork  roads 

Pinavete  Spring 

Camp  head  Plum  Cafion 

Head  Smith's  Canon 

Camp  Smith's  Canon 

Pnrgatoire  Ranch,  Nine-mile  Bottom 

Alkali  Canon 

Sizer's  Ranch 

Fort  Lyon , 

78  E 


Government  agency. 


Water-holes ;  grazing ; 
wood. 


little 


Wood,  water,  and  grass. 

Water-holes;  wood;  grazing. 

Water. 

Water;  littlograssandwood. 

Ranches. 

Stage  station,  deserted. 

Government  agency. 

Post. 


1234 


EEPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 


LIST  OF  ROAD-DISTANCES  BETWEEX  PROMINENT  POINTS,  MEANDERED   BY   PARTY  NO.  1, 

CALIFORNIA  SECTION,   1876. 

Carson  to  Reno. 

Reno  to  Beckwith's  Store. 

Reno  to  Milfoid. 

Reno  to  Trnckee. 

Reno  to  Milton. 

Truckee  to  Sierraville. 

From  Carson,  Xev.,  to  Reno,  Nev. — Atlas-sheet  A'o.  47d. 


Distance  in  miles. 

c 

o 

.a 

3 

§.3 

i> 

a 
o 

a 
O 

a 

d 
a 

a 

o 

o 

Remarks. 

10.  080 
4.071 
5.  501 
4.  7CC 
6.707 

0.000 
10.  080 
15.051 
20.  552 
25.  258 
31,965 

31. 965 

21.  885 

16.814 

11.413 

6.707 

0.000 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Crossing  C.  P.  E.  K. 

From  Reno,  Xev.,  to  Bechwitli's  Store,  Cal. 


Reno 

Peavine  Ranch  .. 
Junction  House  . 

Summit 

Beckwitli's  Store 


Distance  in  miles. 


10.741 
14.  043 
3.610 
14.  222 


0.000 
10.741 
24.  789 
28.  399 
42.  621 


.a  o 


42.  621 
31.  8e0 
17.  832 
14.222 
0.000 


Remarks. 


Post-Office,  Sierra  Valley. 
Do. 


From  Reno,  Nev.,  to  Milford,  Cal. 


Distance  in  miles. 

o 
« 

—1  C3 

-a 

B 
O 
O   03 

a- 

0)  > 

o 

0 

B 

o 

C-i 

a 
p 

Remarks. 

24.  789 
21.619 
17.  817 

0.000 
24.  789 
46.  408 
64.  225 

64.  225 

39.  436 

17.  817 

0.000 



Milford 

APPENDIX    NN. 
From  Reno,  Xev.,  to  Truckee,  Cal. — Atl&s-sheei  No.  47  d. 


1235 


Reno 

Crystal  Peak 

Forks  of  Henness  Pass  Road 

Virginia  Hr.nso 

Prosser  Creek 

Truckee 


Distance  in  miles. 


^5 


12.  705 
5.850 
4.580 
4.474 
4.056 


0.000 
12.  705 
18.  5.55 
23. 135 
27.  609 
31.61)5 


31.  665 

18.  960 

13.110 

8.  530 

4.056 

0.000 


Remarks. 


Village. 
Stage  station. 


From  Beno,  Xev.,  to  Milton,  Cat. 


Distance  in  miles. 

g 

.a 

6 

o 

«  o 

o 

§"3 

o 

n-r 

Eeniark.s- 

a  » 

S 

s 

* 

O  o 

(^ 

^ 

-a 

^■% 

B 

a 

« 

f^ 

^ 

< 

Reno 

18.  555 
18.  626 
11.  825 

0.000 

49.  006 

Forks  of  Henness  Pass  Road 

18.  555 

30.  451 

Webbei  Luke    

37. 181 
49.006 

11.  825 
0.000 

MiltOH 

From  Truckee,  Cal.,  to  Sierraville,  CaL 


Distance  in  miles. 

f. 

<a 

S'3 

ra  m 

§a 

o  3 

o 
o 

o 
3 

V 

2 

=2° 

EeBsarks. 

H  <=< 

u 

c  m 

H 

'£ 

i5-;3 

a 

a 

n 

6m 

N 

< 

Trnckee 

4.056 
11.413 
10.  671 

0.000 

26. 140 

Prosser  Creek 

4.056 

22.  084 

15.  469 
26. 140 

10.  671 
0.000 

JAST  OF    ROAD-DISTANCES  BETWEEN    PROMINENT  POINTS,   MEANDERED     BY  PARTY  NO. 
2,   CALIFORNIA  SECTION,   1876. 

Carson  to  Dayton. 

Carson  to  Steamboat  Springs. 

Carson  to  Warm  Springs. 

McKinney's  to  Truckoe, 

Virginia  City  to  Dayton. 

Virginia  City  to  Carson. 

Virginia  City  to  Steamboat  Springs. 

Carson  City  to  Eowlands. 

Kowlaud's  to  Genoa. 


1236 


EEPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF   ENGINEERS. 


9 


From  Carson,  Nev.,  to  Dayton,  Ner. — Atlas-sheet  No.  47  D. 


Carson , 

Empire 

Half-way  House 
Mound  House . . 

Dayton 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

.2 

B 

.J3 

o 

§•3 

§.s 

o 

i 

g 

1 

.2| 

(B  O 

o 

P 

-3 

^•i 

a 

a 

o 

0 

PP 

fR 

f=« 

< 

3.70 
2.55 
0.55 
5.05 

""3.' to' 

11.85 
8.15 

6.25 

5.60 

6.80 

5.09 

11.85 

Kemarks. 


At  the  capital. 


Virginia  and  Truclfee  Rail- 
toad. 
At  the  xwat-oflBce. 


Carson,  Nev.,  to  Steamioat  Spi'ings,  (via  east  side  Washoe  Lake.} 


Distance  in  miles. 

0 
> 
0 
.3 

a 

0 

0 
.a 

If 

§.a 

§ 

§!»■ 

Eemarka. 

W   3 

(1 

.Sa 

CS 

M'C 

a>  m 

§  ? 

0 

P. 

t3 

^■B 

a 

g«2 

0 

0 

n 

^ 

Ph 

•< 

19.91 

At  the  capital. 

Lake  View  

4.17 
10.15 

4.17 
14.  32 

1.5. 74 

5.59 

"Waahoe 

East  side  of  lake  from  Lake 

5.59 

View  to  Washoe. 

19.91 

Virginia  and  Trnckee  Rail- 
road. 

Carson  to  Warm  Springs. 


Distance  in  miles. 

0 

^ 

Si 

. 

0 

Qt 

£? 

ta 

S'« 

s 

a 

t''^ 

Bemarks. 

s» 

^ 

0  m 

«  0 

0 

13 

^■a 

a 

a 

n 

N 

^ 

< 

Carson 

At  the  capital. 
State-prison. 

Warm  Springs 

■ 

APPENDIX    NN. 
From  McKinney'8,  Lake  Tahoe,  Cal.,  to  Truekee,  Cal. 


1237 


McKinuey 'a 

Blackwood  Creek. 
Saxton's  Saw-Mill 

Tahoe  City 

Claraville 

Knoxville 

Truekee 


Distance  in  miles. 


§5 

o  o 


3.48 
3.30 
2.29 
5.56 
4.74 

4.93 


3.48 
6.78 
9.07 
14.63 
19.37 

24.30 


24.30 
20.  82 
17.52 
15.23 
9.67 
4.93 


Ramarkg, 


North  of  Sugar  Pine  Point 


At  hotel. 

Deserted  mining-camp. 
Toll-house,  Truekee  and  Ta- 
hoe turnpike  road. 
Central  Pacific  Eailroad. 


From  Virginia  City,  Nev.,  to  Dayton,  Nev. — Atlas-sheet  No.  47D. 


Virginia  City , 

Silver  City 

Johntown 

Gold  Canon  Toll- House 
Dayton 


Distance  in  miles. 


3.74 
1.72 
1.37 
0.68 


3.74 
5.46 
6.83 
7.51 


7.51 
3.77 
2.05 
0.68 


Eemark& 


At  the  International  HoteL 
At  the  flag-staff. 

At  the  post-office. 


From  Virginia  City,  Nev.,  to  Carson,  Nev. — Atlas-sheet  No.  47Z). 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

o 

^ 

^ 

■    -« 

10  10 

.5 
'3 

ri 

Eemarkg. 

o-S 

tX) 

£ 

a  n 

lA 

> 

o 

3 

^•S 

E 

a 

o 

2 

o 

< 

3.74 
10.73 

"'3.'74' 
14.47 

14.47 
10.73 

At  the  International  Hotel. 

At  the  capital. 

1238 


REPOET    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF   ENGINEERS, 


From  Virgmia  City,  Ker.,  to  Steamboat  Springs,  Nee. — Atlas-sheet  ^ID. 


IHetance  in  miles. 


Kemarks. 


Virffinia  City 

Toll-House 

rive-Mile  House .. 
Magnolia  House... 
Steamboat  Springs 


2.51 
3.17 
3.22 
3.25 


2.51 

5.68 

8.90 

11.15 


11.15 
8.64 
5.47 
2.25 
0.00 


At  International  Hotel. 
On  Geiger  grade. 

Do. 
Foot  of  Geiger  grade. 
Virginia  and  Truckee  Rail- 
road. 


From  Carson  City,  Nei\,  to  Eotvland's,  Cah — Atlas-sheets  Kos.  47 D  and  b6B. 


Distance  in  miles. 

0 

,0 

a 

©^ 

<S  > 
0 

.2-3 

< 

5 

to  ai 

11 

3 

a 
o 

i 

o 

B 

o 

i 
1 

g 

Remarks. 

Carson 

9.41 
2.55 
0.85 
2.39 
3.32 
2.33 
4.15 
0.90 
2.59 

'"'9.' 41 
11.96 
12.81 
15.20 
18. 52 
20.85 
25.00 
25.90 
28.49 

28.49 

19.08 

16.53 

15.68 

13.  29 

9.97 

7.64 

3.49 

2.59 

4,665 


At  the  capitol. 

On  King's  Canon  road. 

Glenbrook 

Zephyr  Cove 

Rowland's . . 

From  Bowland's,  Cat,  to  Genoa,  Nev.,  (via  Kinsgiury  grade.) — Atlas-sheet  56 jB. 


c  a 

H  ft 


« 


Rowland's 

Small's  Station 

Summit  Kingsbury  grade 

Haines's 

Genoa  Hot  Springs 

Genoa 


3.48 
3.22 
5.04 
1.14 

1.88 


ance  in  miles. 

> 

-i 

"d 

■2^ 

(S 

e« 

^ 

la 

.«  c3 

0 

0  m 

a 

a 
a 

a 

0 

0 

pR 

fH 

< 

14.76 

3.48 

11.28 

6.70 

8.06 

11.74 

3.02 

12.88 

1.88 

14.76 

Remarks. 


APPENDIX    NN. 


1239 


LIST  OF    ROAD-DISTANCES  BETWEEN  PROMINENT    POINTS,    MEANDERED   BY    PARTV   NO. 
4,  CALIFORNIA  SECTION,    1876. 

Carson,  Nev.,  to  Austin,  Nev.,  rontes  Nos.  1,  2,  and  3. 

Mound  House,  V.  &  T.  R.  R.,  to  Dead  Horse  Well. 

Wadsworth,  C.  P.  R.  R.,  to  ^lason  Valley. 

Wadsworth,  C.  P.  R.  R.,  to  Dead-Horse  Well. 

Wadsworth,  C.  P.  R.  R.,  to  Lodi  Mining  District. 

Wadsworth,  C.  P.  R.  R.,  to  Elsworth  and  lone. 

Austin,  Nevada,  to  Elsworth,  Nev.,  via  Lower  Reese  River  Valley. 

Austin  to  Elsworth,  via  lone,  Nev. 

Austin  to  Schmidtloin's,  Kiugstoa  Cafion, 

Dead-Horse  Well  to  Elsworth,  via  Old  Wellington  Road. 

EOUTE  No.  1. 
From  Carson  City,  Nev.,  to  Austin,  Nev. — Atlas-sheets  Nos.  47D  and  48  C  tj-  D. 


Carson  ... 
Empire. 


Mound  House  , 


Dayton 

Cooney'e 

Carson  River . 


Eagtown 

Saint  Clalr'8. 


School-honse 

Hill  &  (jrimes's  . 


Sand  Spring. 
"West  Gate  .. 
Middle  Gate. 
White  Rock. 
Cold  Spring  . 
Patterson's.. 


New  Pass  . . . 
Mount  Airy . 

Jacobsville . . 

Austin 


Distance  in  miles. 


00    GO 


3.66 
3.45 

5.06 

16.50 
14.15 

10.25 

3.87 

6.28 
6.47 
16.51 

20.06 
3.11 
3.39 
7.11 

10.86 

14.00 
9.25 
10.00 

7.25 


o 


12.17 

28.67 
4-2.  82 

53.07 

56.94 

63.22 
69.69 

86.20 

106.  26 

109.  37 

112.  76 

119.  87 

130.  73 

144.  73 
153.  98 

163.  98 

171.23 


171.  23 
167.57 

164. 12 

159.  06 
142.  56 
128.  41 

118. 16 

114.29 

108. 01 
101.54 

85.03 

64.97 

61.86 

58.47 

5L36 

40.50 

26.50 
17.25 


4,699 
4,553 


4,376 

'4,070 

4.002 

3,989 

3,920 
3,944 

3.926 

4.504 

4,703 

4,818 

5,418 

5,213 


6,786 


6,594 


Remarks. 


Capital  of  Nevada. 

On  Carson  River;  number  of 

mill. 
Station  Virginia  and  Truckee 

Railroad. 
On  Carson  River;  town  of. 
Hay  Ranch;  water;  no  wood. 
Log  cabin ;  wood  and  water  ; 

little  glazing. 
"Water;   little  wood;  forage 

purchased. 
Bridge;  little  wood;  forage 

purchased. 

Ranch;  no  wood;  good  graz- 
ing. 

"Water,  wood,  and  forage  all 
purchased. 

Good  water;  no  wood;  no 
grazing. 

Good -water;  no  wood;  little 
grazing. 

"Water ;  no  wood ;  little  graz- 
ing. 

Good  water ;  no  wood  ;  little 
grazing. 

Ranch  on  Edwards  s  Creek ; 
no  wood ;  grazing. 

"Water  in  spring. 

"Water;  little  grazing;  no 
wood. 

Reese  River ;  no  wood ;  little 
grass. 

City  of. 


Note.— The  above  is  the  usually-traveled  route,  and  the  best  road  between  Carson  and  Austin,  excep  ■■ 
that  from  Patterson's  to  Austin.  The  rotite;via  Smith's  Creek  (see  Route  No.  21)  should  be  taken  if 
accommodations  are  required  en  route,  there  being  none  between  Patterson's  and  Jacobsville 


1240 


REPORT    OP    THE    CHIEF    OF   ENGINEERS. 


KOTJTE  NO.  2. 
From  Carson  City,  Kev„  to  Austin,  Nev. — Atlas-sheets  Nos.  M D  and  48  D. 


Carson 

Dayton. 

Old  Fort  Churchill 
Biicklands' 

Old  Well 

Carson  Lake 

Sulphur  Spring 

Sand  Spring 

Patterson's 

Antuines 

Birchini's 

Half-way  House . . . 
Austin 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

^ 

s 

_>» 

^'H 

'^  ■£ 

a 

^  > 

g.2 

o 

.5 

c  <^ 

ci 

p 

o  at 

»  <0 

O 

<1 

r3 

n 

a 

a 

S 

M 

N 

f^ 

< 

12.17 

21.  39 

J.  11 

174. 16 
101.99 

4,699 
4,376 

33.56 

140.  60 

4,258 

34.67 

139.  49 

4,151 

11.19 

45.  86 

128. 30 

11.  50 

60.36 

113.  80 

3,883 

13.81 

74.17 

99.99 

3,972 

8.00 

82.17 

91.99 

3,926 

44.53 

120.  70 

47.46 

5,213 

14.  37 

141.07 

33.09 

6,517 

23.32 

163.  39 

10.77 

5,743 

5.08 
5.  d9 

168.  47 

5.69 

5,726 

174. 16 

6,594 

Remarks. 


See  Route  No.  1. 

On  Carson  River,  (deserted.) 

Toll  -  bridge  over  Carson. 
Ranch. 

Houtons,  (deserted,)  no  grass 
or  wood. 

Little  grass;  poor  water;  no 
wood. 

Road  station ;  wood  and  for- 
age purchased. 

Road  station;  water,  wood 
and  forage  purchased. 

See  Route  No.  1. 

Smith  Creek,  Milk  Ranch; 
forage  must  be  purchased. 

Reese  River;  ranch;  no  tim- 
ber; forage  must  be  pur- 
chased. 

Well ;  no  wood. 

Wood  and  forage  purchased. 


From  Buckland's  to  Sand  Spring  is  a  deserted  road  and  without  accommodations  at  present,  between 
Bucklands'  and  Sulphur  Springs,  the  first  telegraph  and  old  stage  road.  Also,  from  Buckland's,  Route 
No.  1,  can  be  joined  via  Gates,  on  Carson  River,  (8  miles,)  and  striking  the  first  route  between  Coney's 
and  Log  Cabin,  (10  miles  from  Gates,)  about  six  miles  from  Log  Cabin. 

ROUTE  NO.  3. 
From  Carson  City,  Nev.,  to  Austin,  Nev. — Atlas-sheets  Nos.  47  D  aiid  48  D. 


Distance  in  miles. 

o 

P- 
o 

S) 

oS 
-a 
s 

< 

o 

u 

fe'3 

3 

i 

1 

< 

a 

o 

Remarks. 

Carson 

56.94 
3.72 

ia7i 

14.55 

0.95 

21. 50 

64.97 

176.  34 

119.  40 
11.5.68 
101.  97 

87.42 
86.47 
64.97 

'eo.'ee' 

74.37 

88.92 
89.87 
111.37 

176.  34 

4,699 

3,989 
3,978 
3,954 

"'5,' 88a 
4,504 

6,594 

Capital  of  Nevada. 

S  lint  Clair's  Station 

Stillwater 

County   seat   of  Churchill 

County,  Nev. 
Poor  water ;  wood ;  no  grazing. 
Wood  ;  no  water  or  grass. 
Good  water;  no  wood :  forage 

purchased.  See  Route  No.  1. 

City  of. 

Mountain  Well 

Summit 

West  Gate 

Ranch  about  one-fourth  mile  beyond  "Crossing." 

Old  mining  town.  La  Plata,  3  miles  from  "  Summit,"  is  reached  by  road  that  turns  to  the  north  at  this 
point. 

There  is  a  telegraph  station  at  Stillwater,  and  this  road  follows  the  telegraph  line  to  West  Gate, 
thence  to  Au,?tiu  the  telegraph  is  via  New  Pass  and  Mount  Airy.  This  was  the  last  route  of  the  Over- 
land Sitasfe  Company. 

From  S5ill water  there  is  a  road  (little  traveled)  to  Sand  Spring,  distance  21  miles. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1241 

From  Mound  House  to  Dead-Horse  Well.— Atlas-sheet  No.  57  A. 


Mouud  IIouso 

Dajton 

Toil-Cxato , 

Churchill  Canon 

Forks  of  road 

Schwartz 

First  Crossing 

irason's 

Goiger's 

Lee's  Mill 

Indian  Agency... 
Double  Spring"  .. 
Dead-Horao  Well 


Distance  in  miles. 


5.06 
11.0-2 
9.84 

3.  4fi 
6.19 
5.12 

6.00 
1.40 

0.60 
17.80 

9.00 
19.00 


IP.  08 
25.92 

29.38 
35.57 
40.69 

46.  69 
48.09 

48.69 
66.49 
75.49 
94.49 


94.49 

89.43 
78.41 
68.57 

65.11 
58.92 
53.80 

47.80 
46.40 

45.80 
28.00 
19.00 


4,376 
4,260 


4,272 
4,345 


4,348 
4,  352 


4,  350 
4, 120 


4,117 


Remarks. 


Station,  Virginia  and  Tmckee 

R.  R. 
Town  of.  Carson  River  bridge. 
On  Carson  River  ;  ford  near. 
Water  and  little  wood:   no 


First  ranch  in  Mason  Valley. 
Portion   \yalkcr   River;    no 

timber;  grazing. 
Ranch. 
Near    second    ford     (main) 

Walker  River. 
Water-mill. 

Lower  crossing  W.  R.  ford. 
Water;  no  wood. 
Water ;  no  wood  or  grazing. 


From  Dayton,  a  toll-road  is  being  constructed  through  Mason  Valley  toward  Bellville. 

Dead-Hor.se  Well  is  called  50  miles  from  Bellville.  This  road  is  now  constructed  to  its  junction  with 
the  road  from  Bucklauds  to  Mason  Valley. 

From  Churchill  Canon  the  leftliand  road,  making  a  small  detour  to  the  east,  passes  a  well  and  station 
on  the  Buckland  road,  (also)  2  miles  from  Churchill  Cafion.  The  construction  of  bridges,  as  contem- 
plated, over  the  Walker  River,  near  Lee'a  Mill  will  materially  improve  and  shorten  this  toll-road. 

From  Wadsworth,  Nei\,  to  Mason  Valley  Post-Office. — Atlas-sheets  Nos.  48  C  ^-  57  A. 


Wadsworth 

Bucklanda 

RoadfromDayton{g-^J-^,^- 

Schwartz 

First  Crossing  W.  River 

Maaou 

Geiger 

Mason  Valley  Post-Office 


Distance  in  miles. 


27.08 

7.25 
2.00 
6.19 
5.  12 
6.00 
1.40 

1.50 


34.33 
36.33 
42.52 
47.64 
53.64 
55.04 

56.54 


go 

P    CD 


56.54 
29.46 

22.21 
20.21 
14.  02 
8.90 
2.90 
1.50 


4,102 
4,151 


4,259 
4,  272 


4,345 
4,348 
4,352 


Kemarka. 


Station,  C.  P.  R.  R. 
Ranch ;  toU-bridge  over  Car- 
son. 
Well  of  good  water;  station. 

First  ranch  in  Mason  Valley, 

Grazing;  no  timber. 

Ranch. 

Near    second    ford     (main) 

Walker  River. 
Small  settlement. 


Stockton  Well,  an  old  stage-station  on  the  overland  route,  is  near  this  road,  and  about  nineteen 
miles  from  Wadsworth;  the  station  is  deserted. 


1242 


EEPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF   ENGINEERS. 


From  Wadsworth,  Nev.,  to  Dead-Horse  Well. — Atlas-sheets  Xos.  48  C  ^-  57  A. 


"Wadsworth 

Desert  Well 

Kagtown 

Saint  Clair  Station 

School-House 

Hill  ifc  Grimes 

Sulphur  Spring 

Salt  Well  

Cox's  Station 

Summit 

Deep  Hollow 

Dead- Horse  Well.. 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

® 

o 

a-  oS 

a  » 

o 

a 

1 

o 

a 

OP 

a 
2 
1^ 

15.70 
6.45 

80.68 
64.98 

4,102 
4,031 

22.15 

58.53 

4,  002 

3.87 

2G.02 

54.66 

3,989 

6.28 
6.47 

32.  30 

48.38 

3,920 

38.77 

41.91 

3,944 

10.20 
3.45 
5.84 

48.97 

31.71 

3,  972 

52.  42 

28.  26 

4,  020 

58.26 

22.42 

4,379 

5.  IG 

63.  42 

17.26 

5,602 

3.30 

66.  72 

13.96 

5,  244 

13.96 

80.68 

4,117 

Kemarks. 


Station,  C.  P.  R.  K. 
No  wood  or  grazing. 
Carson  Iliver;    little  wood; 

forage  purclia.sed. 
Bridge  over  Carsou  ;     little 

wood;    forage    purchased. 

Ranch  ;  no  wood ;  good  graz- 
ing. 

Water ;  no  wood  or  grass. 

Poor  water ;  no  wood  or  grass. 

No  wood  or  water;  little  graz- 
ing. 

No  wood  or  water ;  little  graz- 
ing. 

No  wood  or  water ;  little  graz- 
ing. 

Water  ;  no  wood  or  grazing. 


The  above  is  the  road  over  which  freiaht  is  now  transported  from  Bcllville,  Nev.,  Dead-Horse  Wei 
being  about  tifty  miles  from  Bellville.  Water  for  the  use  of  the  stations  is  hauled  to  Salt  Well,  Cox's 
Station,  and  Summit,  from  near  Sulphur  Springs,  and  to  Deep  Hollow  from  Dead- Horse  Well. 


From  Wadsworth,  Nev.,  id  Lodi,  Nev. 


Wadsworth 

Desert  Well 

Ragtown 

Saint  Clair  Station 

Hill  &  Grimes 

Sand  Spring 

West  Gate 

Muddy  Spring  Summit 

Chalk  Well 

Welsh's 

Lodi 


Distance  in  miles. 


a  3 

P  » 


15.70 
6.45 


3.87 


12.75 
16.51 


20.06 
11.96 


7.46 
10.25 


22.15 
26.02 


38.77 

55.28 


75.34 

87.30 


94.76 
105.  01 


108.  29 


108. 29 


92.59 
86.14 


69.52 
53.01 


32.  95 
20.  99 


13.53 

3.28 


4,102 

4,031 
4,002 

3,989 

3,944 
3,926 

4,504 

6,219 

5,690 
5, 236 

5,356 


Remarks. 


Station  on  Central  Pacific 
Railroad. 

Water;  no  wood  or  grass. 

Carson  River;  little  wood; 
forai^e  purchased. 

Bridge  over  Carson;  forage 
purchased. 

Ranch ;  forage  purchased. 

Forage,  wood,  and  water  pur- 
chased. 

Good  water ;  no  wood ;  forage 
purchased. 

Winter  spring  J  mile  south; 
little  wood  or  grazing. 

AVater;  no  wood  or  grazing. 

Water;  no  wood;  little  graz- 
ing. 

Mines;  no  wood;  no  water; 
little  grazing. 


APPENDIX   NN. 


1243 


From  Wadsioorth,  Nev.,  to  Ellsicorth  and  lone,  Nev. — Atlas-sheet  Xo.  57  B. 


Distance  in  miles. 


a  ts 


Bemarks. 


■W.itlsworth 

Desert  Well 

Kagtown 

Saint  Clair  Station 

Hill  &  Grimes 

Sand  Spring 

West  Gate 

Mnddy  Spring  Summit. 

Chalk  Well 

Burnt  Cabin  Sumuiit ... 
Forks  road  to  Ellsworth 
Ellsworth 


15.70 
6.45 

a  87 
12.  75 
16.51 
20.06 
11.96 

7.46 

4.00 
0.50 
9.50 


22.15 

26.02 

38.77 

55.28 

75.34 

87.30 

94.76 

98.76 

99.26 

108.  76 


108.  76 
98.06 
86.61 

82.74 

69.99 

53.48 

33.42 

21.46 

14.00 

10.00 

9.50 


4, 102 
4,0al 
4,002 

3,989 

3,944 

3,936 

4,504 

6,219 

.5,  690 
6,552 


6,871 


Station  on  C.  P.  K.  R. 

Water  ;  no  wood  or  grass. 

Carson  River;  little  wood; 
forage  purchased. 

Bridge  over  Carson ;  little 
wood ;  forage  purchased. 

Ranch  ;  little  wood  ;  forage 
purchased. 

Forage,  wood,  and  water  pur- 
chased. 

Good  water ;  no  wood ;  forage 
purchased. 

Winter  spring  J  mile  south  ; 
little  wood  or  grazing. 

Water  ;  no  wood  or  grazing. 

Scant  timber ;  no  water. 

Mining  town ;  forage,  &c., 
purchased. 


From  "forks  of  road"  lone  is  distant  14.5  miles. 

From  West  Gate  a  route  may  be  taken  to  Chalk  Well,  as  follows :  To  White  Rock,  6.500  miles  ;  water  ; 
no  wood  or  grazing;  East  Gate,  2.710  miles  j  water;  little  wood,  (ranch;)  Chalk  Well,  14.000  miles;  water; 
no  wood  or  grazing ;  total,  23.21  miles. 

From  Austin,  Nev.,  to  Ellsworth,  Nev. — Alias-sheets  Nos.  48  D  and  57  B. 


Distance  in  miles. 

0 

a 
< 

o 

a  o 

a  i=. 

a 

1 

.a 

1 

a 
s 

Eh 

Remarks. 

8.69 
4.00 
11.25 
9.56 
10.05 
11.76 

'  "12.19" 

23.94 
33.50 
43.55 
55.31 

55.21 
46.  52 
42.  52 
31.37 
21.81 
11.76 

6,594 
6,014 

'6,253 
6,137 
6,537 
6,871 

City  of. 

Wei!;  forage,  etc.,  purchased. 
Ranch,  Reese  River. 

Crowley's 

Summit 

Peterson's 

Cabin 

Scant  timber ;  no  water. 
Ranch;  forage, &c., purchased. 
Spring;  nowood;Utt1egrazing 

EUs  worth 

Mining  town ;  wood  plenty ; 
forage,  &c.,  purchased. 

Road  but  little  used.    Grade  is  good. 


1244 


REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 


ROUTE  No.  1,  VIA  lONE,  NEV. 
From  Austin,  Nev.,  to  Ellsworth,  Nev. — Atlas-sheets  Nos.  48  D  and  57  B. 


Anstln 

Silver  Age  . . 
Abie's  Kanch 

Elkhorn , 

McMahon's  . 

Summit 

lone 

Ellsworth . . . 


Distance  in  miles. 

> 

^ 

M 

©-S 

a 

o.g 

^ 

S'Z 

u  3 

s 

a  P< 

p 

^ 

S  o 

•< 

H 

rs 

^•^ 

a 

g 

a 

« 

Eh 

i=( 

< 

8.69 
11.77 

60.  54 

6,594 

51.85 

6,014 

20.46 

40.08 

5,990 

5.680 

17.46 
4.690 
3.250 

26.14 

34.40 

6,123 

43.60 

16.94 

6.  552 

48.  29 

12.  25 

7,  488 

51.54 

9.00 

6,844 

9.00 

60.54 

6,871 

Remarks. 


City  of. 

Wellj  forage,  &c.,  purchased. 
Reese  River;  forage,  &.C.,  pur- 
chased. 

Do. 

Do. 
Ti«ber;  no  water. 
Mining  town;  wood  plenty; 
forage,  &.C.,  purchased. 

Do. 


Good  wagon-road. 

Buck-board  carries  the  mail  and  pas.senger8  from  Ellsworth  to  Austin. 

Austin  is  distant  88  miles  from  Battle  Mountain  ;  Central  Paciflo  Railroad  is  connected  by  stage-line. 

Ranches  are  found  at  short  intervals  from  Ahles  to  McMahon's,  along  Reese  River. 


From  Austin,  Nev.,  to  Schmidtlein's  Ranch. — Atlas-sheet  Xo.  48  D. 


Austin 

Silver  Age 

Mouth  Big  Creek  Cafion 

Forks  of  Big  Creek 

Summit,  (south  fork) 

Sterling  Mill ._. 

Mouth   Kingston   Canon,  Schmidt- 
lein's Ranch. 


o 

Distance  in  miles. 

> 

-§ 

-^ 

,^3 

a 

-a  a 

&^ 

to 

-^3 

^+3 

a 

Si 

B 

M 

Ph 

Eq 

<1 

8.69 
3.80 
2.00 
3.20 
9.60 
1.00 

28.29 
19.60 

6,594 
6,014 

12.49 

15.80 

14.49 

13.80 

6,  982 

17.69 

ID.  60 

8,675 

27.29 

1.00 

6,818 

28.29 

6,220 

Remarks. 


City  of. 

■Well;  forage,  ifcc,  purchased. 
"Water;  little  wood  and  grass. 
Water;  little  wood  and  grass. 

Water;  littlewood  andgrass. 
Water  and  grass. 


Schmidtlein's  Ranch  is  on  the  west  side  of  Big  Smoky  Valley. 

This  is  the  middle  pass  through  the  Toyabe  range,  from  Reese  River  Valley  to  Big  Smoky  Valley, 
The  northern  one  is  at  Austin  and  the  aoutbern  one  by  Ophir  Caiion. 


?«?cv 


t:^^"- 


INSERT  FOLDOUT  HERE 


APPENDIX   NN. 


1245 


From  Dead-Horse  Well  to  EUsxvorth,  Ker. — Attas-sheets  Xos.  57  A  avd  57  B. 


Dead-Horse  Well 

Hot  Springs  — 
Old  Well 

Snnimit 

Ellsworth 


Distance  in  miles. 


tf-;: 


10.65 
15.32 

8.30 
3.50 


a 


25.97 


34.i27 
37.77 


37.77 


27.12 
11.80 


3.50 


£■3 


4,117 
4,212 


7,602 
6,371 


Remarks. 


Good  water ;  no  wood  orgraz- 

ing. 
Water;  salt  grass;  no  wood. 
Not  used ;  no  wood  and  little 

Rrass. 
Timber;  little  grazing. 
Mining  town;  wood,  water, 

and  forage. 


Dead-Horse  Woll  was  a  station  on  the  Wellington  .stage  road  from  Walker  River  to  Reese  River;  it 
is  al.so  on  the  direct  road  from  Wadswortli  to  Bellville,  and  from  Maeon  Valley  to  Bellrille,  50  milea 
from  the  latter. 

PROGRESS  MAP. 

The  changes  noted  on  this  sheet  are,  in  addition  to  the  marking  of 
areas  occupied  and  proposed  for  the  season  of  1877,  and  the  stage  of 
prosecution  of  map  results,  the  positions  of  the  present  Indian  agencies, 
the  naming  of  railroads,  and  an  addition  of  practical  data  showing  the 
changes  in  lines  of  communication,  military  posts,  &c.,  within  the  year. 
The  short  season  rendered  it  impracticable  to  add  so  large  an  area  as 
usual  to  that  already  covered  in  previous  years  by  the  several  topo- 
graphical parties,  and  my  own  time  was  spent  principally  with  the  party 
operating  in  the  Lake  Tahoe  region  and  in  the  Washoe  mining  district, 
after  concluding  the  organization  of  the  Colorado  section. 

The  immediate  vicinity  of  Lake  Tahoe  has  been  so  often  described, 
and  the  later  maps  will  aftord  so  much  that  is  an  improvement  to  the 
present  idea  of  its  mountain  pictnresqueness,  that  I  need  only  add 
my  regret  that  the  spoliation  of  the  forests  along  its  shores  has  become 
80  rapid,  in  aid  of  the  mines  of  the  Comstock,  that  shortly  the  horizon 
from  lake-level  will  be  bare  of  the  covering  that  has  lent  so  much  to  the 
natural  beauty  of  this  peculiarly  interesting  region.  Indeed,  could  the 
title  of  the  Government  be  again  made  perfect  to  this  part  of  its  domain, 
one  might  be  justified  in  recommending  its  segregation  from  the  "pub- 
lic lands,"  that  the  natural  beautj^  of  the  forest  might  be  permanently 
reserved  as  a  part  of  a  lake  region  so  unique. 

PROFILES. 

The  aneroid  profiles  joining  most  of  the  points  of  importance  within 
and  immediatelj'  adjacent  to  the  field  of  survey  have  been  prepared, 
and  have  become  a  matter  of  office  record. 

A  special  profile-map  of  the  continental  divide  from  Gray's  Peak,  Col- 
orado, to  latitude  35°  in  New  Mexico,  has  been  prepared,  showing  the 
elevations  of  the  prominent  peaks  and  passes,  and  upon  it  is  projected 
the  profile  of  the  ridges  facing  the  plains  from  the  head  of  the  Arkan- 
sas southward  to  the  latitude  above  mentioned. 

As  the  passes  leading  westward  and  lying  between  Gray's  Peak  and 
Sherman,  the  highest  point  on  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  (8,242  feet,) 
are  known  to  be  each  of  greater  elevation  than  those  necessary  to  be 
crossed,  as  shown  by  the  sketch,  in  going  southward  until  near  latitude 
35^,  it  appears  that  any  through  railroad  route  to  the  Pacific,  south  of 
the  Union  Pacific  Kailroad,  will  necessarily  encounter  elevations  equal 
to  those  given. 


I24G  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF   ENGINEERS. 

It  does  not  seem  practicable  to  avail  of  any  new  pass  for  a  throagh 
western  line  of  railroad  between  latitude  35^  and  40=',  except  that  at  the 
head  of  Pass  Creek,  a  southern  branch  of  the  Huerfano  that  heads  near 
the  source  of  the  Sangre  de  Cristo  Creek,  and  where,  by  means  of  tun- 
neling, a  transit  of  the  summit  should  be  made,  at  an  elevation  not 
exceeding  an  altitude  of  approximately  9,100  feet  above  sea-level. 

NATURAL  RESOURCES. 

Upon  the  sheets  in  colors,  showing  the  natural  distinctions  of  the 
surface  occupied,  the  following  divisions  are  made:    .       .       ,     ^, 

1  AraMe.—This  refers  to  soil  susceptible  of  cultivation  by  the  use 
of  water,  when  it  is  apparent  that  the  supply  is  adequate,  assuming 
that  irrigation  is  necessary.  ....  ^i     ^• 

2.  Grazing.— O^  the  various  grades,  often  infringing  upon  the  tim- 
bered area.  .  ,         ...  ,   , 

3.  Timber.— ThQ  gradations  in  amount,  size,  and  quality  cannot  be 

^"^4  Arid  and  ftarren.— This  embraces  that  part  of  the  surface  absolutely 
valueless  for  agricultural  purposes,  and  includes  desert  wastes  and  rock 
exposures.  ^  ,    .  , 

The  positions  of  mines  in  place  and  placer  are  at  present  shown  only 
on  the  regular  topographical  sheets.  . 

The  topographical  sheet  upon  which  these  divisions  are  marked  is  a 
reproduction  from  the  original  sheets  regularly  issued.  A  legend  is 
attached  to  the  case  of  maps,  giving  the  geographical  locality  ot  each. 
A  description,  supplemented  now  by  the  maps  themselves,  ot  sheets 
61B,  GlCc,  6oD,  70A,  and  TOG,  is  given  in  the  last  annual  report. 
BAROMETRIC  ALTITUDES. 

Work  in  the  meteorological  branch  has  been  confined  principally  to 
the  takino-  of  observations  with  a  view  to  their  subsequent  computation 
and  determination  therefrom  of  differences  of  altitude  between  known 
points  and  those  at  which  original  observations  have  been  taken,  trood 
progress  has  been  made. 

The  altitudes  are  at  once  used  in  the  construction  of  the  mountain 
parts  of  the  map,  and  upon  the  atlas-sheet  the  altitudes  of  the  principal 
settlements  and  other  marked  points  are  noted,  while  from  time  to  tiuie 
the  altitudes  of  prominent  peaks  and  other  natural  objects  will  be  pab- 
lished  in  list  form.  i.  t  at 

The  Sio-nal-Office,  through  the  courtesy  of  General  Albert  J.  3iyer, 
Chief  SigMial-Officer,  has  kindly  furnished  transcripts  of  observations 
taken  at*a  number  of  stations  contiguous  to  the  field  of  survey. 

MINING  INFORMATION. 

Fifteen  districts  have  been  visited  and  located  by  the  several  parties. 

The  cursorv  examination  that  may  be  carried  out  hastily,  in  a  district 
usually  not  long  discovered,  has  been  made,  and  the  facts  gathered 
made  the  subject  of  a  report.  ,     .•        ^  4.1 

At  the  Comstock  Lode,  made  famous  from  its  large  production  of  the 
precious  metals,  gold  and  silver,  more  extensive  examination  as  to  the 
eno-ineering  features  of  its  mining  industry  has  been  instituted ;  added 
to  the  oveiWind  survey  of  the  contour  and  superficial  improvements, 
undero-rouud  examinations  along  profile  lines  separated  one  hundrea 
feet  are  in  progress,  and  the  circumstances  of  the  mining  openings  upon 
the  various  levels  will  be  noted,  and  the  marked  features  discovered  will 
be  illustrated  graphically.  The  conditions  of  ventilation  and  drainage 
will  be  made  a  matter  of  special  study,  as  well  as  the  application  of 


INSERT  FOLDOUT  HERE 


APPENDIX    NN.  1247 

machinery  to  the  lifting?  of  heavy  weights  from  below  the  surface  and 
the  conditions  of  practice  in  the  reduction  of  ores.  If  time  and  means 
permit,  nothing  will  be  left  undone  in  the  full  and  fair  investigation  of 
the  present  condition  of  mining  industry  iu  this  section,  as  evidenced 
by  work  already  prosecuted. 

The  Sutro  Tunnel,  well  known  as  the  most  extended  work  of  its  kind 
in  American  raining,  will  bo  examined  in  detail,  and  the  rock-specimens 
gathered  during  its  progress  are  likely  to  throw  much  light  on  the 
character  of  the  several  volcanic  beds  or  "country  rock"  that  make  up 
the  casings  of  the  ore-bearing  matter.  The  next  annual  report  will 
give  tiie  progress  made  up  to  that  date,  while  the  finished  results  will 
endeavor  to  show  in  shape  for  permanent  reference  the  present  con- 
dition of  this  industry,  now  so  well  recognized  in  the  western  interior. 

In  this  duty  I  have  been  assisted  by  Mr.  John  A.  Church,  mining 
engineer,  who  has  taken  up  the  underground  work  with  a  commendable 
energy,  and  Anton  Karl,  general  service,  U.  S.  Army,  who  has  been 
engaged  in  completing  plane-table  sheets,  begun  in  the  year  187G. 

THE   EAGLE  AND   WASHOE   VALLEY  MINING  DISTRICT,  NEVADA. 

[From  notes  by  A.  R.  Conkling.] 

This  district  was  discovered  and  organized  in  August,  1875,  since  which 
time  the  North  Carson  has  been  worked  continuously.  Its  post  office  is 
Carson,  Nev.  It  is  distant  from  railroad  communication  three  miles.  The 
nearest  practicable  route  is  a  wagon  road,  direct  to  the  Carson  Mine,  from 
the  Virginia  and  Truckee  Railway.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
divide  between  Washoe  Lake  and  Carson  Plain  ;  on  the  south  by  Carson 
River;  on  the  east  by  the  Como  Mountains;  on  the  west  by  the  Eastern 
Summit  Range.  Area,  about  25,000  linear  feet,  now  taken  up  in  North 
Carson  Mine.  Long  and  narrow  in  shape,  the  trend  is  generally  north- 
east and  southwest.  Other  ininiug-ledges  are  found  in  the  vicinity,  on 
the  southern  slope  of  the  foot  hills,  with  a  general  trend  north  and 
south.  The  general  direction  of  lodes,  deposits,  and  stratifications  is 
northeast  and  southwest.  The  ore  is  richer,  and  the  vein  enlarges  in 
descending.  The  wall-rock  is  granite.  Its  slope  is  nearly  vertical.  The 
clayey  wall  inclines  slightly  to  the  east.  In  age,  the  country  rock  is 
metamorphic,  granite,  and  hornblendic  granite.  No  fossils  are  found. 
Ores  are  worked  by  the  free  process. 

No  water-level  has  yet  been  reached.  Chloride  of  silver  is  the  chief 
ore,  with  some  sulphides.  Silver  is  the  principal  metal,  with  a  little  mala- 
chite incrustating  the  wall-rock.  The  principal  mines  now  worked  are 
the  Montreal,  Emerald,  Clear  Creek,  Niagara,  (described  in  Whitehill's 
report,)  and  the  North  Carson.  The  North  Carson  is  situated  3  miles  due 
north  of  Carson  City.  It  has  one  double-compartment  shaft,  305  feet 
deep.  The  walls  of  shaft  are  well  timbered.  Timber  can  be  hauled  to 
the  mine  from  flume  at  the  rate  of  $12  per  1,000  feet.  At  every  100  feet 
in  the  shaft  there  is  a  station.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  there  is  a  tunnel 
(JIO  feet  long,  not  yet  (September,  1876)  reached  by  the  shaft.  Two 
hundred  feet  from  the  mouth  of  the  shaft  a  little  rock  has  been  broken, 
t.  e.,  sufficient  to  reach  the  vein.  At  100  feet  level  there  is  a  drift  320 
feet  long.     The  mine  has  good  ventilation. 

No  ore  has  been  sent  away  from  this  mine  as  yet.  Vein  of  ore  varies 
from  4  to  5  feet.  Seventy-five  thousand  dollars  has  been  expended  in 
the  mineral  development  of  the  North  Carson  Mine.  The  average  cost 
of  milling  labor  per  day  is  $4.  Cost  per  foot  for  sinking  a  shaft  on  a  main 
vein  is  from  SCO  to  $70,  Average  cost  per  foot  for  running  a  drift  on  a 
main  vein,  830.  Hay  is  $30  per  ton.  Oats,  3  cents  per  pound ;  an  abun- 
dant  supply  of  both.    Facilities  for  raising  farm-produce  are  good. 


1248 


REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 


Timber  and  wood  abundant.  "Water  at  ^North  Carson  Mine  is  brongbt 
from  Virginia  water-hoisting  works.  Main  tapped  If  miles  from  Carson . 
There  is  one  stage  and  several  freight  lines.  Five  churches,  2  school- 
houses,  many  stores,  and  2  banking-houses.  The  Indians  are  those  of 
the  Washoe  and  Shoshone  tribes,  and  are  few  in  number.  The  principal 
silver-mining  companies  are  the  Korth  Carson,  Ayres  and  Hopkins, 
Gould  and  Barnhart,  Ida  Ayres,  All  Right,  Ayres's  Consolidated,  Huston, 
and  Montreal  and  Emerald.  These  companies  are  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  California. 

NATURAL  HISTORY. 

In  geology,  Mr.  A.  E..  Conkling  submits  a  report  of  his  observations 
made  in  the  iSierra  Nevada,  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Tahoe  and  to  the 
southward,  and  has  collected  a  number  of  fossils.  His  report  upon  the 
results  of  an  examination  of  a  number  of  microscopical  section  of  rocks 
from  various  localities  is  herewith. 

Mr.  H.  W.  Henshaw  has  made  an  ornithological  report  as  the  result 
of  his  season's  labor,  and,  as  well,  has  collected  specimens  in  other 
departments  of  zoology.  The  results  from  further  examinations  by  Dr. 
J.  T.  Eothrock  and  Prof.  F.  W.  Putnam,  the  one  in  botany,  the  other 
of  the  archaeological  collections,  with  their  colaborers,  will  appear  in 
volumes  6  and  7. 

The  following  gives  a  list,  as  prepared  by  Mr.  Henshaw,  of  the  various 
lots  and  specimens  forwarded  b}'  the  expedition  to  the  Smithsonian 
Institution  ;  all  of  which  have  been  donated  to  its  museum,  their  prac- 
tical importance  to  the  survey  having  ceased  with  the  examination  and 
reports  made  thereupon.  The  list  is  taken  from  the  records  of  this 
office  and  those  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution : 


List  of  7}atural-history  collections  forwarded  to  the  Smithsonian  I'uslittttioii  during  the  years 

1871  to  1876,  inclusive. 


Subjecta. 


Vertebrate  fossils j  t^t'^'.'^^!'.:: 

Invertebrate  fossils speciroens. 

„       ,  C  sDeciuieus. 

Crustacea),'. <  j-^g 


Moiiusca !K^;°^"!:: 

Mamraals specimens.. 

Birds  and  mammals,  (alcoholic,)  speci- 
mens. 

Mammal  crania specimens. . 

Birds specimens.. 

Bird  crania,  (sterna,  &c.)  ..specimens.. 

Bird-skeletons specimens.. 

Bird-embryos specimens.. 

Bird-nests specimens.. 

Bird-eggs specimens . . 

Keptiles,  (batrachians). ..  5  ^P^^cimens.. 

T,.  ,  ^^                                   (  specimens. . 
^'S^«s ^j^ts 

Hymenoptera j^!"!!"!:; 

T      •  J     .  ( specimens.. 

Lepidoptera |  j^^^ 


specimens. 


Diptera H^,; 

Coleoptera  {^^'!^^: 

Ortboptera IZf^.T/. 

Arachnida j  L^t^!"".!"! '. 

Botanical  specimens 


specimens, 
lots 


126 


12 

135 

27 

15 

3 


1,300 
135 


1,  42C 


522 
4 


10 

20 
550 
109 
275 

48 


100 
5 


1,506 


600 

6ti 

135 


37 

659 

31 

4 


20 
193 
950 
192 
850 
109 
450 

43 
288 
141 

50 

13 

4,500 

240 

500 

48 
250 

20 


250 
23 


3 

,055 
22 


6 

11 

750 

140 

650 

91 


4,200 
211 


1875. 


500 
1 


100 

1 

1,000 
95 
43 
26 

18 

793 
9 


14 
750 
153 
800 
116 
790 


483 
162 


1,200 
18 


100 
16 


200 
14 

150 
15 

10 


2 
150 


83 
8 
350 
49 
50 
3 


,000 
34 


Total 
specimens. 


500 

3,368 

300 

3,000 

270 
30 

60 

3,239 

68 

4 

5 

36 

250 

3,218 

2,940 

500 

771 

50 

13,  300 

500 

350 

'11,000 


■  Approximate. 


APPENDIX    N  N.  1249 

PUBLICATIONS. 

Daring  the  year  the  followiug  maps  have  been  published  : 

Progress  map  of  1877. 

Profile  map  (coiitiiiental  divide  from  Gray's  Peak  to  latitude  ?>rj°.) 

Topographical  atlas-sheets  53  O,  01  D,  05  D,  09  B,  70  A,  70  0,  77  B. 

The  natural  resources  of  five  of  these  sheets,  in  colors,  will  be  found 
accompanying  the  edition  of  the  annual  report,  printed  and  placed  at 
the  disposal  of  this  otBce. 

j\[ai)s  in  color  showing  the  natural  advantages  of  the  area  delineated 
in  sheet  01  Cc,  (San  Juan.)  and  01;  (B,)  Upper  Arkansas  Valley,  are  also 
added. 

The  volume  numbered  four  (Paleontology)  has  passed  through  the 
press.  Proof  of  nearly  half  of  volume  II  has  gone  to  stereotype.  The 
proof  of  a  portion  of  the  "  Star  Catalogue"  mentioned  in  my  last  report 
has  been  read,  and  this  valuable  catalogue  will  be  in  the  hands  of  ob- 
servers during  the  coming  season,  should  longitude  and  latitude  obser- 
vations be  prosecuted. 

Two  thousand  copies  of  ray  annual  report  (Appendix  J  J,  annual  re- 
port Chief  of  Engineers  for  i870,)  have  been  published,  with  a  folio  of 
the  regular  atlas-sheets  issued  during  the  year  ending  June  30th,  1876. 

The  following  atlas-sheets,  seventeen  in  number,  are  in  various  stages 
of  completion,  viz  :  47  B,  47  D,  48  C,  48  D,  52  D,  62  A,  62  C,  09  A,  69  C, 
73  A,  73  B,  73  C,  73  D,  77  C,  77  D,  78  A,  84  A. 

A  number  of  sheets,  enumerated  below,  have  been  plotted  in  various 
scales,  and  have  either  been  published  or  are  awaiting  publication,  as  fol- 
lows :  Lake  Tahoe  region,  1  inch  to  1  mile  ;  route  of  party  No.  1,  Califor- 
nia section,  1875,  1  inch  to  4  miles;  map  of  Virginia  City,  Nev.,  and 
vicinity,  1  inch  to  500  feet ;  three  plane-table  sheets,  Virginia,  Nev'.,  and 
vicinity,  1  inch  to  1,000  feet ;  preliminary  map  of  portions  of  northern 
Utah  and  southern  Idaho,  (for  field  use ;)  sketch  of  cave  in  Nevada ; 
sketch,  of  personal-equation  apparatus;  plan  of  Ogden  observatory; 
three  sheets  giving  positions  of  astronomical  monuments;  detailed  topo- 
graphical sheet  showing  results  of  Colorado  Eiver  and  Grand  CaQon 
exploring  party  of  1871. 

CONCLUSION. 

As  regards  the  progress  toward  completion  of  the  topographical  atlas 
of  the  area  of  territory  west  of  the  100th  meridian,  the  progress-map, 
herewith,  shows  the  advance  made  in  that  direction.  The  possibility 
of  a  more  or  less  minute  topographical  survey  of  all  of  this  extended 
region  has  not  yet  been  made  mandatory  by  legislative  act,  but  Congress 
has  appropriated  money  for  a  number  of  years.  The  use  of  this  fund  is 
limited  to  a  fiscal  year,  and  hence,  unless  an  additional  appropriation  is 
each  year  made,  which  is  often  unknown  until  the  current  year  has 
nearly  expired,  the  project  of  operations,  as  a  part  of  which  the  retention 
of  skilled  employes  is  requisite,  cannot  be  made,  until  a  date  often  later 
than  the  period  terminating  their  office- work  which  is  needed  in  the  reduc- 
tions of  the  previous  season's  field-work ;  and  this  is  usually  so  late  that 
full  advantage  cannot  be  taken  of  the  entire  summer-season.  By  an  in- 
crease of  assistants  enlisted  in  the  general  service  ;ind  the  detail  of  a 
number  of  engineer  and  other  officers  requisite  for  the  command  of  the 
number  of  field-parties  each  year  engaged,  the  expenditure  for  additional 
service  can  be  limited  to  the  small  number  of  scientists  engaged  in  special 
79  E 


1250        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

duties,  and  that  of  computers  and  draugbtsineu  engaged  in  the  tech- 
nical labors  necessary  to  the  rapid  i)roduction  of  results.  Without  ad- 
verting to  the  advantage  to  the  military  service  growing  out  of  extended 
topographical  surveys,  it  seems  practical  to  urge  the  propriety  of  placing 
the  item  for  the  continuation  of  this  work  upon  the  "Army  bill,"  which 
usually  becomes  a  law  earlier  during  the  session  of  Congress  than  the 
sundry  civil  bill,  (so  called,)  that  frequently  is  not  approved  earlier  than 
the  middle  of  June,  while  parties  for  the  field  should  be  en  route  during 
the  early  part  of  May. 

ESTIMATE. 

For  continuing  the  geographical  survey  of  the  territory  of  the  United 
States  west  of  the  one  hundredth  meridian,  provided  the  supply- 
branches  of  the  War  Department  shall  assist  as  heretofore;  being  for 
field  and  office  work,  and  for  the  preparation,  engraving,  and  printing  of 
the  maps,  charts,  plates,  cuts,  photographic-plate  and  other  illustrations 
for  reports ;  for  temporary  office-room  at  points  remote  from  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  and  the  purchase  at  nominal  rates  of  sites  for  field-observa- 
tories authorized  by  the  Department ;  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June 
30,1879 1120,000  00 

As  follows : 

For  expenses  of  parties  in  the  field $45,000  00 

For  office-expenses,  including  salaries 10,500  00 

For  transportation,  including  purchase  of  animals 10,000  00 

For  material  for  outfits 6,500  00 

For  subsistence  on  expeditions 5,500  00 

For  forage,  winter-herding,  fuel,  storage,  &c 7,500  00 

For  purchase  of  instruments 6,000  00 

For  repair  ot  instruments 1,000  00 

For  temporary  office-room  at  points  remote  from  Washington 1,  000  00 

For  erection  of  observatories  and  monuments  at  astronomical  and  geo- 
detic stations 4,500  00 

For  purchase  of  sites  for  observatories 1,000  00 

For  preparation  of  maps,  charts,  &c 6,000  00 

For  engraving  and  printing  maps,  charts,  photographic-plate  and  other 

illustrations  for  reports 10,  000  00 

JFor  contingencies,  (field  and  office) 5,500  00 

Total 1-20,000  00 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT, 

Amount  expended  from  appropriation  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 

1877,  and  from  appropriation  made  available  March  3,  1877 $35,329  87 

Amount  remaining  unexpended  July  1,  1877,  from  appropriation  for  con- 
tinuing the  geographical  survey  cf  the  territory  of  the  United  States 
west  of  the  one  hundredth  meridian  for  fiscal  year  ending  June  30, 1878.       43,  492  64 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

Geo.  M.  Wheeler, 
First  Lieut.  Corps  of  Engineers,  in  Charge. 
Brig.  Gen.  A.  A.  Humphreys, 

Chief  of  Engineers  U.  8.  A. 


Appendix  A. 

EXECUTIVE  AND  DESCRIPTIVE  REPORT  OP  LIEUTENANT  ERIC  BERGLAND,  CORPS  OF  ENGI- 
NEERS, ON  THE  OPERATIONS  OF  PARTY  NO.  1,  COLORADO  SECTION,  FIELD  SEASON  OF 
1876. 

United  Status  Engineer  Office, 
Geographical  Surveys  West  of  100th  Meridian, 

Washington,  D.  C,  April  15,  1877. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  operations  of  party  No.  1, 
Colorado  section,  during  the  last  field  season  : 
Owing  to  the  late  date  at  which  the  appropriation  for  the  survey  became  available, 


APPENDIX    NN.  1251 

the  party  was  not  organized  nntil  the  latter  part  of  August,  1876,  at  the  Rendezvous 
Camp  ;it  Fort  Lyon,  Colo.,  and  consisted  of  myself  as  executive  officer  and  iield  as- 
tronomer;  Louis  Nell,  chief  toi)Ograi)her  ;  Francis  Klett,  assistant  topographer  ;  Will- 
iam C.  Niblack,  nieteorologisti ;  A.  K.  Owen,  odometer  recoi'der  ;  two  packers,  one 
cook,  one  teamster,  and  two  enlisted  men  belonging  to  Company  D,  Nineteenth  In- 
fantry. 

As  the  field  season  would  be  necessarily  short,  only  a  limited  area  could  be  covered 
and  completed-  hence  that  assifjned  to  me  embraced  portions  of  several  atlas-sheets, 
for  the  completion  of  %vhich,  sufficient  topographical  data  had  not  been  previously  ob- 
tained. These  incomplete  sections  lie  in  the  southeast  corner  of  atlas-sheet  "  .5iJ  D," 
southwest  corner  of  "  .5:5  C,"  western  portion  of  "  (52  A,"  northeast  portion  of  "61  D," 
and  northwestern  i)ortion  of  "  62  C."  As  it  was  necessary  to  go  as  far  north  as  latitude 
39°  20'  and  to  the  south  as  far  as  latitude  37°  40',  it  seemed  advisable  to  complete  the 
northern  section  first  before  the  snow  would  interfere  with  our  movements,  and  tri- 
angulatiou  and  tt)pographical  work  ;  then  to  proceed  southward  and  accomplish  the 
work  required  in  the  San  Luis  and  Wet  M(»mtain  Valleys.  Subsequent  events  proved 
this  surmise  to  be  correct,  as  we  had  barely  finished  our  work  in  the  northern  por- 
tion when  we  were  greeted  with  a  snow-storm  on  reaching  Fairplay,  the  13th  of  Oc- 
tober. 

After  completing  the  organization,  the  party  proceeded  up  the  Arkansas  Valley  from 
Fort  Lyon  to  Pueblo,  Col.  At  this  place  several  triangulation  stations  were  occupied 
and  monuments  erected  on  prominent  points  in  the  vicinity.  From  Pueblo  the  main 
party  proceeded  to  Canon  City  ;  thence  along  the  Fairplay  road  to  the  17-mile  ranch 
on  Currant  Creek,  at  which  point  we  left  this  road  and  proceeded  northeastwardly 
along  the  road  to  High  Creek  and  camped  on  this  latter  creek,  a  short  distance  above 
the  caiiou.  Before  reaching  Canon  City,  a  side  party  was  detached  in  charge  of  the 
chief  topographer  which  proceeded  up  Beaver  Creek  to  the  vicinity  of  its  source,  occu- 
pying the  principal  peaks  south  oi  Pike's  Peak,  and  establishing  the  courses  and  drain- 
age of  the  streams  which  flow  south  from  this  range  and  empty  into  the  Arkansas  River 
Ibetween  Pueblo  and  Caiion  City.  The  side  party  having  joined  the  main  party  at 
High  Creek,  we  proceeded  along  the  Colorado  Springs  road  to  Florissant  Post  Office. 
From  this  point  a  number  of  topographical  stations  were  occupied,  and  the  surround- 
ing countrj'  thoroughly  surveyed. 

By  your  orders  Mr.  Klett  was  directed  to  proceed  to  Washington  on  the  Ist  of  Octo- 
ber, and  he  left  the  party  at  this  place  ;  at  the  same  time  I  sent  one  of  the  enlisted 
men  back  to  Fort  Lyon,  since  his  services  in  the  field  were  no  longer  required.  From 
Florissant,  after  crossing  the  South  Platte  River,  we  proceeded  up  Tarryall  Creek  to 
the  junction  of  Rock  Creek,  then  np  this  latter  creek  some  5  miles,  where  camp  was 
established,  and  from  whence  the  ascent  of  the  Twin  Cones  was  made. 

From  Rock  Creek  the  party  proceeded  westwardly  across  the  upper  end  of  South 
Park  to  Fairplay,  thence  south  via  the  Salt  Works  and  Trout  Creek  Pass  into  the 
Upper  Arkansas  Valley,  down  this  valley  to  the  junction  of  the  South  Arkansas  River, 
thence  through  Puncho  Pass  into  the  San  Luis  Valley,  and  down  the  valley  to  the  Mosca 
Pass.  From  camps  in  the  latter  valley  several  prominent  peaks  of  the  Sangre  de  Cristo 
Range  were  occupied,  a  road  to  Sagauche  meandered,  and  several  mines  visited  and 
examined. 

Passing  through  the  Mosca  Pass  we  entered  the  Wet  Mountain  Valley  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Rosita,  where  The  main  camp  was  established,  from  which  side  parties  were 
sent  out  to  occupy  the  necessary  points  in  the  Sangre  de  Cristo  and  Wet  Mouutain 
Ranges  and  Cuerno  Verde  Peak.  Here  the  mines  were  also  examined,  and  information 
gained  as  to  their  yield  and  prospects. 

From  Rosita  the  party  moved  to  Canon  City  by  way  of  the  Oak  Creek  Road,  thence 
by  the  road  which  crosses  the  head  of  Little  Fountain  Creek  to  Colorado  Springs. 
Here  a  base-line  was  measured  and  connected  with  our  system  of  triangles,  as  well  as 
with  the  astronomical  monument,  and  Pike's  Peak  was  ascended  and  occupied  as  a 
triangulation-station.  From  Colorado  Springs  the  party  proceeded  to  Pueblo  and  Fort 
Lyon,  which  latter  place  was  reached  December  10.  The  property  was  then  disposed 
of  according  to  your  orders,  and  the  party  disbanded. 

The  results  obtained  during  the  field  season  may  be  briefly  enumerated  as  follows  : 

Ten  triangulation  stations  were  occupieil,  at  which  repeated  angles  were  measured 
by  means  of  an  8-inch  transit  theodolite  by  Bntf  &  Berger,  reading  to  10  seconds  of 
arc.  Fifty-one  topographical  stations  were  occ  ipied  and  located  by  angles  to  the  tri- 
angulation statious.  The  route  of  the  party  was  meandered  and  measured  with  the 
odometer  throughout.  At  Colorado  Springs  a  base-line  over  12,000  feet  long  was  care- 
fully measured.  The  usual  meteorological  observations  were  taken  in  camp,  on  the 
march,  on  divides,  and  mountain  stations,  in  accordance  with  your  printed  instruc- 
tions. Tf!e  mines  on  the  west  slope  of  the  Sangre  de  Cristo  Range,  and  those  at  Rosita, 
were  visited  and  examined. 

Tarryall  Creek  was  gauged  at  camp  12,  near  McLoughlin's  Ranch,  on  October  8, 


1252  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

and  its  volume  foiintl  to  be  27.5  cubic  feor.  per  second,  which  may  be  considered  as  the 
miuiuiuin  amount,  as  rain  had  not  lalleu  for  several  weeks  previously. 

The  geoloi;y,  climate,  and  agricultuial  resources  of  this  region  have  been  so  ably 
described  in  previous  annual  reports  and  also  by  Professor  Stevenson  in  Vo  ume  III  of 
your  quarto  reports,  that  any  detailed  description  by  me  would  be  snperfluons,  hence 
I  will  nierelj'  remark  that  an  abundance  of  water,  wood,  and  grass  was  found  at 
Dearly  all  of  our  camps,  except  in  the  San  Lu's  Valley.  The  small  valleys  along  the 
streams  which  enspty  into  the  South  Platte  and  Arkansas  are  occupied  by  se* tiers 
whose  principal  pursuit  is  stock-raising.  Cousiderable  portions  of  these  valleys  have 
been  lei.ccd  in  and  are  uiilized  for  hay-laud  and  pasturage,  as  during  severe  winters, 
when  there  is  a  heavy  snow-fall,  the  cattle  mnst  be  fed  on  hay  until  the  snow  is  re- 
duced in  depth.  Deer  and  other  game  wer-,  frequently  seen  in  the  mountains  after 
the  Ist  of  November,  aud  herds  ot  anteloj)e  in  the  upper  portions  of  the  San  Luis 
Valley,  and  on  the  plains  east  of  Pueblo.  The  streaius  in  this  section  are  generally 
not  well  stocked  with  lish,  none  being  found  in  some  of  the  larger,  as  Tarryall  Creek. 
An  instance  ot  the  devastating  eltect  (M  violent  rain-storms  or  cloud-bnrsts  was 
observed  at  Duck  Lake  on  the  Tiirryall  Creek.  In  the  fall  of  1875  a  heavy  shower  of 
limited  area  burst  over  the  mouutaius  nu  the  east  side  of  the  creek,  the  water  from 
which  brought  down  so  much  earth  and  loos^  material  that  the  stream  was  choked 
up,  aud  the  water  spread  over  the  valley,  converting  some  huiulreds  of  acres  of  hay- 
land  into  a  miry  swamp.  The  temperature  during  the  day  in  September  and  October 
was  moderate  aud  pleasant,  the  nights  cool  and  refreshing.  But  little  rain  fell  during 
these  months,  aud  the  sky  was  generally  free  from  clouds,  which  circumstance  greatly 
facilitated  our  triangulation  and  topographical  work.  In  November,  especially  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  month,  the  thermometer  ranged  during  the  day  from  50°  to  be- 
low the  freezing-point,  while  at  night  and  on  some  mountain  stations  the  mercury 
"went  down  to  zero  and  below.  Frequent  snow-storms  also  interfered  with  our  work 
aud  movements,  and  made  it  extremely  unpleasant  for  all  members  of  the  party,  as 
well  as  necessitating  the  purchase  of  forage  for  the  animal^  when  the  ground  was 
covered  with  snow. 

MINES. 

The  first  mines  visited  are  situated  in  the  new  district,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  head- 
waters of  the  North  Crestou  Creek.  This  district  was  (October  27)  a'lout  to  be  organ- 
ized under  the  name  of  Creston  district.  First  discoveries  were  made  in  May,  1875, 
aud  a  number  of  prospecting  shafts  had  been  opened.  But  little  ore  had  been  taken 
out  up  to  the  time  of  my  visit,  as  there  is  no  mill  at  the  mines  and  the  ore  is  not  rich 
enough  to  warrant  the  cost  of  shipment  to  any  distance.  Some  of  the  quartz  which 
has  been  milled  gave  a  yield  of  $12  to  |il5  per  ton.  Three  to  four  thousand  dollars 
have  been  expended  in  completing  lines  of  communication  to  the  mines.  Timber  is 
convenient  and  abundant  on  the  slopes  and  in  the  gulches  where  the  ore  is  found,  and 
a  sufficient  supply  of  water  is  also  available.  The  distance  to  the  railroad  is  about 
100  miles  at  La  Veta  by  the  way  of  Sangre  de  Cristo  Pass.  Grain  and  hay  are  raised 
in  the  valley,  and  can  be  furnished  at  the  mines  at  2^  cents  per  pound  for  oats  and  $15 
per  ton  for  hay. 

EL  DOKADO  MINING  DISTRICT. 

This  was  visited  and  reported  upon  by  Mr.  Niblack.  This  district  lies  between  South 
Creston  aud  Deadman's  Creek,  and  is  about  7  miles  south  of  Creston  district.  It  was 
organized  in  1874,  and  a  small  town  has  been  built  which  is  called  Sangre  de  Cristo 
Post  Office.  Two  5-stamp  mills  have  been  erected,  but  were  not  in  operation  when 
visited,  October  29.  The  character  of  the  ores  is  about  the  same  as  those  of  the  tirst 
district,  but  the  yield  has  not  beeu  sufficient  to  induce  much  exi^enditure  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  several  prospecting  shafts. 

HARDSCRABBLB  DISTRICT,   ROSITA. 

This  district  has  beeu  previouslj^  reported  upou  by  Dr.  Loew.  Siuce  his  visit  the 
Pocahontas,  Humboldt,  and  Virginia  mines  have  beeu  worked  continuously  or  nearly 
so,  aud  the  yield  has  been  satisfactory,  although  it  has  hitherto  beeu  necessary  to 
transport  the  greater  part  of  the  ore  to  Denver  for  milling.  A  new  mill,  in  which  the 
leaching  jnoress  is  used,  was  iiuished  last  December,  aud  a  20-stamp  mill  was  in  pro- 
cess of  erection.  The  estimated  yield  of  the  three  mines  mentioned  was  for  1875 
$40,000,  and  for  bS76  $200,000      The  average  yield  of  ore  re<inced  was  $110  per  ton. 

In  conclusinn,  I  wish  to  tender  my  thanks  to  the  topographers,  meteorologists,  aud 
recorder  for  their  hearty  co-operation  and  general  attention  to  theii'  duties  throughout 
the  season,  thereby  making  it  possible  to  complete  the  work  assigned  within  the 
allotted  time. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Eric  Bergiand, 
First  Lieutenant  of  Engineers. 
Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Wheeler, 

Corps  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


APPENDIX    N  N.  1253 

Appendix  B. 

exkcl'tive  and  descriptive  report  ov  likutexant  saml.  e.  tii.lman,  corps  of 
engineers,  on  tue  operations  of  party  no.  1,  california  section,  field  season 

-.OF   1676. 

United  States  Engineer  Office, 
Geographical  Surveys  West  of  the  100th  Meridian, 

Washington,  D.  C,  April  If),  1^77. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  folhi wing  report  upon  the  country  visited  by, 
and  the  operations  of,  Party  I,  California  Division,  of  the  expedition  for  snrveys  west 
of  the  one  hnndredth  meridian  dnring  the  Hehl  season  of  187fi.  Tlie  area  for  work 
assif^ned  by  yonrself  to  Party  I  falls  in  atlas-sheet  47,  snbdivisions  "  B  "  and  "D"  of  the 
progress  map,  and  is  between  the  meridians  distant,  from  Gref^nwich  119'^  48' and  120° 
3-i',  and  the  parallids  of  ;W^  18'  and  40"^  16'.  It  is  situated  immediately  north  of  the 
portion  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  between  the  stations  of  Reno  on  the  east  and 
Cisco  on  the  west.  The  country  to  be  traversed  lay  principally  in  the  uplifted  region 
which  constitutes  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains.  Tlieso  mountains  are  here  of  con- 
siderable breadth,  and  at  first  sight  give  the  impression  of  a  confused  mass,  but 
a  little  observation  shows  that  they  are  composed  of  nearly  parallel  ridges,  the  longer 
ones  having  to  the  northward  a  direction  of  about  2^)°  west  of  north.  The  summit-line 
of  the  range  is  tortuous,  correctly  located,  however,  by  the  direction  of  drainage. 
To  the  east  of  this  line  the  waters  flow  to  the  lakes  and  sinks  of  the  Nevada  basin. 
To  the  west  they  go  to  the  Sacramento  River,  thence  to  the  Pacitic.  The  eastern  wall 
of  the  Sierras  crosses  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  at  about  the  one  hundred  and  twen- 
tieth meridian,  which  is  here  the  boundary-line  between  California  and  Nevada.  A 
single  spur  of  the  range  projects  to  the  east  of  this  meridian  and  lies  in  Nevada.  About 
25  miles  west  of  the  eastern  wall  arises  the  second  marked  ridge  of  the  Sierras,  ex- 
tending nearly  parallel  to  the  eastern,  and  forming  here  the  western  limit  of  our  work. 

The  summit-lines  of  these  ridges  have  received  the  local  designation  of  eastern  and 
western  summits.  The  Central  Pacific  Railroad  crosses  the  true  summit-line  of  the 
Sierras  upon  the  second  of  these  ridges  at  about  the  meridian  of  120°  20'.  The  sum- 
mit-line, bearing  as  stated,  remains  upon  this  ridge  for  about  18  miles.  It  then  makes 
nearly  a  right  angle  and  crosses  to  the  eastern  wall  of  the  Sierras.  From  this  point, 
latitude  39°  36',  it  runs  nearly  due  north  to  parallel  39°  5.5'.  It  then  has  a  direction 
nearly  northwest  to  parallel  40°  16',  which  was  the  most  northern  point  visiteii  by  me. 
The  axis  of  the  second  ridge  changes  direction  at  the  point  at  which  the  summit-line 
leaves  it,  latitude  39°  29',  bearing  nearly  due  north  to  parallel  39°  47'.  At  this  parallel 
is  found  a  second  transverse  ridge,  immediately  north  of  which  the  longitudinal  ridges 
rise  in  closer  proximity,  all  having  the  same  trend  as  the  eastern  wall.  For  convenience 
of  description,  I  have  divided  the  area  of  my  work,  situated  in  the  Sierras,  isito  three 
sections,  suggested  by  the  configuration  above  noted.  The  southern  section  is  the  por- 
tion between  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  and  the  transverse  divide  upon  which  the 
summit-line  crosses  from  west  to  east,  and  limited  on  the  east  and  west  by  the  two  axial 
ridges  before  mentioned.  The  middle  section  lies  between  the  s.ame  two  axial  ridges, 
north  of  the  first  and  south  of  the  second  transverse  divides.  The  northern  sect  on 
is  north  of  the  second  transverse  divide,  extending  west  to  meridian  120°  38'  and 
bounded  ui»on  the  north  and  east  by  the  summit-ridge  of  the  Sierras,  which  here  runs 
nearly  northwest.  In  addition  to  the  mountain  area  above  located.  Party  I  covered  a 
narrow  slip  along  the  eastern  base  of  the  mountains  extending  from  Reno  to  the  par- 
allel 40°  16'.  Of  the  sections,  already  indicated,  the  southern  is  heavily  timbr-red  with 
pine  and  broken  by  long,  broad,  sloping  spurs,  usually  from  the  west.  The  valleys  or 
flats  are  of  small  extent  and  bear  the  names  of  the  claimants.  The  waters  of  this  sec- 
tion flow  to  the  Nevada  basin,  passing  the  east  wall  of  the  mountains  by  the  caQon 
of  the  Truckee  River.  Truckee  and  Boca  are  stations  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad, 
situated  in  this  section.  There  are  several  saw-mills  from  which  lumber  is  carried  to 
the  railroad  by  flumes.  These  flumes  are  V-shaped  troughs,  supported  upon  trestle- 
work,  extending  from  a  lower  to  a  higher  level.  At  the  higher  level  a  stream  of  water 
is  turned  into  the  trough.  This  artificial  channel  then  becomes  the  mea.is  for  sending 
down  enormous  quantities  of  wood  and  lumber.  Prosser  Creek,  in  this  section,  has  been 
dammed  at  the  mouth  and  a  pond  formt-d,  from  which  large  quantities  of  ice  are  pro- 
cured. Small  herds  of  cattle  and  sheep  are  grazed  in  the  flats  during  summer,  but  de- 
scend to  lower  altitudes  in  winter. 

There  are  but  few  permanent  settlers  in  this  section  away  from  the  railroad  and  the 
mills.  At  the  western  side  of  this  section,  close  on  to  the  base  of  the  second  ridge,  are 
nestled  three  beautiful  bodies  of  water— Donner,  Webber,  and  Independence  Lakes. 
Donner  Lake,  the  lowest  of  these,  is  about  5,800  feet  above  the  sea  ;  Independence 
Lake  attbrds  excellent  fish.  The  middle  section  of  my  work  is  bounded  by  the  two 
axial  and  two  transverse  ridges  previously  mentioned.  It  comprises  an  elevated  val- 
ley of  considerable  extent,  called  Sierra  Valley.     This  valley  would  approach  iu  figure 


1254        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

a  rectangular  quadrilateral  were  it  not  that  long-necked  spurs  project  from  the  south 
and  east,  converting  it  into  a  right-angle  triangle.  This  valley  embraces  about  140 
square  miles.  At  the  sonttiern  vertex  of  the  triangle  is  a  little  town,  Sierraville  ;  at 
the  eastern,  is  Summit  Post  office.  Between  these  two  is  Lojalton.  At  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  valley  is  Beckworth's  Post  office.  The  western  and  southern  walls 
are  heavily  timbered  with  pine;  the  northern  and  eastern  are  partially  bare.  The 
valley  is  entirely  taken  up  by  settlers.  At  Sierravdle,  the  head  of  the  valley,  the  alti- 
tude is  4,880  feet.  Near  the  head  of  the  valley,  vegetables,  wheat,  and  even  fruit  can 
be  grown  with  some  success.  Farther  out  from  thi  timber  and  stream  free  radiation 
and  accumulation  of  cold  air  at  night  prevent  this.  About  three-fifths  of  the  valley 
supplies  good  grass,  from  which  large  quantities  of  hay  are  secured  for  winter's  needs. 
The  meadows  are  situated  along  and  near  to  the  streams  which  flow  along  the  north 
and  west  sides  of  the  valley.  The  wateris  unite  near  Beckworth's  Post  office,  to  form 
the  head  of  the  Middle  Fork  of  Feather  River,  passing  to  the  west  of  the  canon  of  that 
stream.  In  the  northern  section  the  mountain  ridges  are  nearer  together,  the  valleys 
long  and  narrow,  with  a  descending  northwest  trend.  The  valleys  grow  narrower 
with  the  descent,  soon  canon,  and  empty  their  waters  into  Indian  Creek,  which  here 
flows  nearly  west  along  parallel  40^^  5'.  Beyond  this  creek  the  spurs  have  a  northeast 
direction  to  the  eastern  wall.  No  attempts  are  made  to  grow  vegetables,  fruits,  or 
cereals  in  these  valleys.  A  single  day's  ride,  however,  down  the  streams  will  take  one 
to  a  region  where  fruits  and  vegetables  can  be  grown  with  partial  success.  The  differ- 
ence of  altitude  between  the  points  makes  a  marked  difference,  but  other  causes,  easily 
understood,  also  facilitate  such  elforts.  The  heads  of  the  valleys  of  this  section  are 
above  the  sea,  on  an  average,  about  5,500  feet.  The  wagon-road  leading  to  Taylor- 
ville,  which  follows  along  the  waters  of  one  of  these  valleys,  (Clover  Valley,)  descends 
1,500  feet  in  the  last  three  miles  before  reaching  Indian  Creek.  There  are  claimants  to 
all  the  grass-growing  lands.  Considerable  herds  of  cattle  are  grazed  here  during  the 
sunmier,  but,  as  a  rule,  removed  in  winter.  Only  a  few  of  the  ranchmen  remain  here 
during  the  winter.  This  section,  with  exception  of  the  small  valleys,  is  well-timbered 
with  pine.  Coumion  to  the  entire  mountain  area  embraced  above  is  the  appeax-ance 
of  the  surface-rock.  It  is  all  of  volcanic  origin.  The  entire  area  has  once  been  flooded 
with  melted  rock.  The  transverse  divide  between  the  middle  and  northern  section  of 
my  work  is  a  mountain  mass  of  solidified  waves  of  lava,  embracing  beautiful  speci- 
mens of  the  columnar  structure.  These  rocks  are  generally  of  trachytic  classes.  In 
this  region,  and  all  others  that  I  have  ever  visited  where  the  surface-rock  is  of  like 
nature,  loose  fragments  are  widely  spread.  Travel  is  always  slow  and  tedious  in  such 
places.  In  order  to  account  for  this  universal  distribution  of  fragments,  it  is  only  nec- 
essary to  suppose  that  surfaces  resulting  from  volcanic  action  were  usually  uneven, 
with  sudden  ascents  and  descents  from  one  level  to  another.  The  contiaued  action  of 
gravity  and  the  weather  would  then  accomplish  what  we  now  see.  In  places,  the  sur- 
face-rock is  cut  through  by  canons,  and  the  primary  formations  displayed.  I  can  give 
no  definite  information  as  to  the  rain-fall  in  this  region.  Numerous  stateiueuts  were 
received  upon  this  point,  but  the  discordancy  was  correspondingly  great.  The  amount 
of  rain  is  not,  probably,  over  12.1  inches.  The  daily  range  of  temperature  was 
usually  very  great.  On  the  19th  of  September,  at  a  camp  on  the  northern  section,  at 
night,  the  minimum  thermometer  recorded  19'^  ;  the  same  d  ly  the  maximum  was  77° 
in  the  shade,  and  112°  in  the  sun;  the  maximum  difference  between  the  wet  and  dry 
hulbs  for  the  same  day  was  20°.  During  the  season,  the  wet  and  dry  bulbs  differed  by 
from  6°  to  20°.  In  the  northern  section  there  is  usually  6  to  10  feet  of  snow  during 
the  winter,  (this  not  included  in  the  estimated  rain-fall.)  The  inhabitants  who 
attempt  to  remain  at  their  ranches  during  winter  use  snow-shoes  from  8  to  12  feet 
long,  and  are  confined  to  very  limited  journeys  from  December  to  April.  In  Sierra 
Valley  and  the  flats  of  the  southern  section  the  snow-fall  is  considerably  less.  The 
streams  of  the  entire  region  abound  in  fish — in  the  northern  sections  the  brooks  are 
almost  alive  with  mountain-trout.  In  this  section,  too,  frequent  indications  of  deer 
were  seen,  but  not  eo  in  the  middle  and  southern  sections.  In  addition  to  the  mount- 
ain areas  described  above,  party  1  covered  a  small  stretch  of  country  east  of  the 
Sierras,  extending  from  Reno  along  the  eastern  base  of  the  mountains  to  the  most 
northern  parallel  visited.  To  the  east  of  the  Sierras  the  axes  of  the  ridges  lie  more 
nearly  north  and  south.  The  valleys  between  them  are  deserts  of  sai.d  and  sage- 
brush. A  narrow  slip  of  land  close  in  to  the  eastern  wall  of  the  Sierras  furnishes  good 
grazing,  and  is  occupied  by  settlers.  The  growth  of  timber  ceases  entirely  at  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Sierras. 

The  routes  of  communication  traversing  the  region  of  our  work  may  be  briefly 
stated  as  follows:  From  Reno,  which  is  the  most  eastern  point;,  a  road  leads  nearly 
directly  west  across  the  eastern  wall  into  the,  southern  section.  It  then  divides  ;  one 
branch  continues  nearly  due  west  across  the  second  ridge;  the  other  branch  turns  to 
the  south,  and  runs  near  to  and  parallel  with  the  railroad,  crossing  the  summit-line  of 
the  Sierras  at  the  same  point.  Another  road  leads  from  Reno  along  the  eastern  base  of 
the  mountains  to  Susanville,  beyond  the  limits  of  my  work.     A  branch  from  the  road 


APPENDIX    NN.  1255 

crosses  through  Beckworth's  Pass  to  Summit  Post  Office,  at  the  eastern  vertex  of  Sierra 
Valley,  and  continues  along  the  northern  side  of  the  valley,  passing  out  along  the 
niidtlie  fork  of  Featbe'-  River.  From  Bcckworth's  Pass  there  is  a  road  along  the  east- 
ern side  of  the  valley,  through  Loyalton,  to  Sierraville,  which  then  i)asses  westward 
acrf)ss  the  second  ridge.  Still  another  road  passes  from  Keno  direct  to  Loyalton.  Three 
roads  lead  from  tlu)  southern  into  the  middle  section,  and  one  from  the  middle  to  the 
northern.  From  the  northern  section  there  are  three  roads  crossing  east  to  the  Reno 
and  Susanville  road.  Beck  worth's  Pass  is  5,'200  feet  above  the  sea  level,  about  1 ,800  feet 
below  the  suinmit-])nss  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad.  1  had  intended  to  iuclude 
herein  a  profile  of  the  road  to  J5 -ckworth's  Pass,  with  grade  per  mile,  but  I  find  the 
hypsometric  observations  for  that  day  too  unreliable  for  my  purpose. 

I  shall  now  proceed  to  state  the  movements  of  the  party.  The  California  division 
of  the  survey  was  organized  at  Carson  City,  Nev.  I  was  placed  in  charge  of  this 
division  of  the  survey,  but  your  own  arrival  at  an  early  day  at  the  rendezvous-camp 
renders  reference  to  any  other  party  than  my  own  unnecessary.  I  was  placed  in  imme- 
diate command  of  party  1,  which  consisted  of  the  following  members:  Myself,  as 
executive  officer  and  fieid-astronomer ;  Mr.  Gilbert  Thomi)son,  triangulator  and  chief 
topographer;  Mr.  F.  M.  Lee,  meteorologist;  Mr.  William  Looram,  odometer-recorder; 
Mr.  E.  D.  Miner,  assistant  topographer;  2  packers,  1  cook,  1  laborer.  A  six-mule  wagon 
and  driver  were  placed  at  my  disposal  for  a  few  days ;  9  riding  and  11  pack  mules  were 
allowed  the  party.  The  instruments  supplied  weie  the  same  as  usual  dawng  the  past 
two  years,  except  that  an  attem])t  had  been  made  to  employ  a  kind  of  combined  transit 
and  theodolite,  to  be  used  as  an  astronomical  instrument  as  well  as  for  triangulation. 
The  rough  usage  to  which  such  an  instrument  is  subjected  in  triangulating,  and  the 
unfavorable  circumstances  under  which  astronomical  observations  are  often  unavoida- 
bly attempted,  combine  to  condemn  the  instrument  for  such  double  use.  Two  topo- 
graphical transits  (Young's)  were  allowed ;  one,  I  believe,  has  before  been  the  allow- 
ance. 

The  party  left  the  rendezvous-camp  at  Carson  City  on  September  6  for  the  field  of 
operations,  proceeding  direct  to  Reno,  meandering  and  profiling  the  route.  The  rations 
of  this  party  had  been  accumulated  at  Reno.  Owing  to  the  late  beginning  of  work  and 
the  probability  of  early  snow  in  my  area,  I  decided  to  work  in  the  northern  section  first. 
The  party  reached  Reno  on  the  7th.  I  concluded  to  leave  Reno  wich  forty  days'  rations, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  time  I  expected  to  be  able  to  return  without  material  loss  of 
time.  On  the  8th  I  left  Reno  with  the  wagon,  carrying  32  days'  rations  and  1,000  pounds 
of  barley.  Mr.  Thompson  was  left  in  charge  of  the  pack-train  with  8  days'  rations,  to 
follow  my  trail  as  rapidly  as  the  regular  work  would  allow.  I  followed  the  road  along 
the  east  base  of  the  mountains,  crossing  through  Beckworth's  Pass  into  Sierra  Valley, 
continued  west  to  Beckworth's  Post  Office.  At  this  point  I  passed  from  the  middle  to 
the  northern  section  by  the  road  connecting  them.  At  the  head  of  Clover  Valley,  one 
of  the  small  valleys  of  this  section,  I  was  enabled  to  leave  my  rations  and  forage  in 
the  custody  of  a  ranchman.  I  then  retraced  my  course.  On  the  11th  September  1  met 
the  train,  having  just  entered  Sierra  Valley.  The  wagon  and  driver  were  thou  dis- 
patched to  Carson  City.  Mr.  Thompson  had  already  occupied  one  triangulation-station, 
Peavine  Mountain,  which  is  northwest  of  Reno  and  east  of  the  Sierras.  Two  others 
were  made  on  the  main  ridge  of  the  Sierras,  respectively,  on  the  12th  and  13th.  In 
addition  to  this,  several  topographical  stations  were  made  before  reaching  the  ration- 
station  in  Clover  Valley,  which  was  on  the  15th  September.  From  this  camp  we  worked 
to  great  advantage  for  15  days.  Parties  were  seiit  out  in  all  directions,  returning  by 
different  routes  when  practicable.  The  same  animals  were  not  used  continuously, 
which  is  great  economy.  On  the  1st  October  the  party  left  the  camp.  Our  packs  were 
now  much  lighter,  rations  having  been  considerably  reduced.  We  proceeded  farther 
north  than  we  had  yet  been,  to  the  extreme  triangulation-point  in  that  direction,  which 
is  situated  in  latitude  40"  16'.  At  this  point  the'party  passed  to  the  east  of  the  Sierras, 
striking  the  Susanville  road  near  the  northern-shore  line  of  Honey  Lake.  This  lake 
receives  the  drainage  of  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Sierras  for  50  miles,  both  north  and 
south.  It  is  about  12  miles  wide  and  15  long,  not  over  5  feet  deep  on  an  average. 
Myriads  of  ducks  and  geese  were  seen  there.  Turning  to  the  south,  the  party  kept  the 
road  to  the  point  from  wiiich  we  previously  left  it,  crossed  a  second  time  through 
Beckworth's  Pass,  followed  down  the  east  side  of  the  valley,  then  up  the  west  to 
Beckworth's  Post  Office,  then  diagonally  across  the  valley  to  Loyalton,  and  from  there 
to  Reno,  reaching  the  latter  October  16.  From  September  6  to  October.  16,  inclusive, 
every  day  had  been  available  for  work.  Bad  weather  kept  the  party  in  Reno  during 
the  ITth.  The  wagon  returned  to  me  at  this  time,  as  had  been  previously  arranged. 
An  enlisted  man  was  teamster,  and  a  corporal  was  in  charge  of  the  wagon.  One  of  my 
packers  left  me  here,  but  I  did  not  employ  another,  as  the  Avagon  more  than  replaced 
him.  On  October  18  the  party  left  Reno  by  the  only  unmeandered  road  which  led  to 
our  field  of  work.  It  was  called  the  Hennes  Pass  Road.  By  it  we  crossed  into  the 
southern  section  of  our  work,  and  continued  along  the  northern  side  of  it.  On  the 
20th  another  camp  %vas  established,  with  intention  of  remaining  thereat  for  some  time. 


1256        EEPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

From  this  camp  Mr.  Thompson  was  sent  to  occupy  the  most  western  of  the  trian- 
gulation-poiats.  While  Mr.  Thompson  was  goue  npou  this  trip  I  attacheil  an  odom- 
•eter  to  the  wagon,  and  meandered  one  of  the  roads  leading  into  Sierra  Valley  and 
returned  by  a  second.  Mr.  Thompson  returned  to  camp  on  the  "2.")th.  It  rained 
steadily  during  the  26th  and  27th.  On  the  night  of  the  27th  about  five  inches 
■of  snow  fell  at  our  camp,  aud  much  more  in  the  mountains.  The  weatber  permitted 
no  outdoor  work  on  the  28th  and  29th.  On  the  30th  of  October  our  camp  was  moved  to 
within  4  miles  of  Truckee,  as  moi'e  snow  was  anticipated.  On  November  1  the  weather 
promised  better,  aud  I  started  with  Mr.  Thompson  to  occupy  the  last  triangulation- 
station  deemed  necessary  for  covering  my  area.  This  point  was  Castle  Peak,  situated 
a  few  miles  north  of  Suunnit  Station  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad.  The  ascent  of 
this  peak  was  extremely  difficult.  The  snow  in  the  mountains  averaged  about  18 
inches;  in  many  places  it  was  from  2  to  4  feet  deep.  After  the  most  intense  and  con- 
tinued exertion,  attended  with  no  little  danger,  we  reached  the  top  late  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  2d  November.  On  the  3d  I  returned  to  camp  near  Truckee.  On  Novem- 
ber 4  and  .5  the  weather  was  bad.  I  learned  at  this  time  that  Mount  Rose,  a  high  point 
south  of  the  railroad,  had  not  been  occupied,  the  intention  of  the  party  operating  in 
that  area  to  do  so  having  been  interfered  with  by  bad  weather.  This  point  being 
very  essential,  I  started  on  November  6  to  make  the  as  ent.  On  account  of  the  suow 
i  t  was  very  difficult,  but  we  reached  the  top  on  the  7th  ;  returned  to  camp  on  the  8th. 
On  the  lOth'November  I  dispatched  the  party  to  Carson  City,  going  myself,  by  rail, 
to  Virginia  City,  to  ascertain  whether  connection  with  the  base,  measured  near  that 
place,  could  be  made  from  the  work  done.  Returning  to  Carson  City  on  the  12th,  I 
found  the  pack-train  arrived.  I  deemed  it  advisable  to  reascend  Mount  Rose,  and  ac- 
cordingly set  out  for  that  point  on  the  ]3th.  The  ascent  was  made  on  the  14th.  The 
party  continued  topographical  work  in  the  vicinity  until  the22d  November,  when  they 
returned  to  Carson  City  and  disbanded.  During  the  season  the  system  of  work  pre- 
viously adopted  in  the  survey  w-as  followed.  The  system  and  its  advantages  have 
been  ably  stated  by  Lieutenant  Marshall  in  his  report  of  1876.  During  the  season,  13 
triangulatiou-stations  were  occupied  and  46  topographical  three-point  stations; 
numerous  meander-stations,  which  cau  be  checked  by  same  method ;  several  points 
were  located  by  intersections;  1,040  meander-stations  were  made,  each  of  which  was 
also  an  aneroid-station  ;  94  separate  cistern-barometer  stations  were  made ;  625  miles 
of  travel  were  meandered  ;  515  miles  traveled  without  meander.  Hypsometric  and 
meteorological  observations  were  made  in  exact  accordance  with  printed  instructions 
from  this  office,  and  my  experience  enables  me  to  suggest  no  alterations  in  said  instruc- 
tions. Of  the  area  visited  by  this  party,  approximately  t%  is  good  grazing,  -fu  barren, 
and  -j^u  good  timber-land.  The  only  mines  are  located  near  Peavine  Mountain,  and. 
were  not  visited  by  me.  It  will  be  observed  that  I  have  given  only  a  general  descrip- 
tion of  the  country;  but,  as  the  region  is  of  no  lanusual  interest,  I  deem  it  sufficient. 
Any  description  which  would  render  intelligible  the  detailed  movements  of  a  party  in 
an  unknown  region  would  require  more  time  and  labor  than  the  information  would 
warrant,  since  the  results  will  finally  appear  upon  the  map.  1  have  therefore  only  in- 
dicated the  movements  of  the  main  portion  of  the  party. 

In  conclusion,  I  cannot  recommend  too  higijly  the  following  of  my  assistants  :  Mr.  G. 
Thompson,  chief  topographer;  Mr.  F.  M.  Lee,  meteorologist,  aud  Mr.  William  Looram, 
odometer-recorder.  Mr.  Thompson  has  had  much  experience,  aud  it  cau  be  truthfully 
said  that  he  is  untiring  in  his  etibrts,  aud  his  zeal  appeals  ever  to  increase.  Mr.  Lee's 
familiarity  with  his  duties  and  interest  therein  left  me  little  responsibility  in  that 
work.  Mr.  Looram,  in  addition  to  the  monotonous  and  wearing  duty  of  odometer- 
recorder,  was  ever  I'eady  and  capable  to  assist  in  meteorological  observations  when 
necessary.  The  movements  of  a  party  in  a  field  are  greatly  facilitated  by  a  good 
packer,  and  I  yield  a  grateful  acknowledgment  to  my  chief  packer,  Mr.  C-  H.  Howell, 
as  the  best  I  have  ever  known.  His  intelligence  saved  me  much  anxiety,  and  his  ex- 
cellent care  of  the  animals  was  a  great  practical  aid  to  the  expedition. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  E.  Tillman, 
First  Lieut.  Corps  of  Engineers. 

Lieut.  G.  M.  Wheeler, 

Corjjs  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1257 

Appendix  C. 

executive  and  descriptive  report  op  lieutenant  thomas  w.  symons,  corps  of 
engineers,  on  the  operawons  of  party  no.  3,  california  section,  field  sea- 
SON  OF   1876. 

United  States  Engineir  Okfice, 
Geographical  Surveys  West  ok  tiik  IOOtii  Meridian, 

IVanhuujio)!,  D.  C,  April  15,  1877. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  subiut  herewith  the  executive  report  of  Party  No.  3,  Cali- 
fornia section  of  the  survey,  for  the  tiehl  season  of  1876,  together  witti  a  brief  report 
on  the  mining  interests  of  the  Couistock  lode. 

EXECUTIVE   REPORT. 

The  duties  assigned  to  the  party  under  inv  charge  were  to  lay  out  and  measure  a 
base-line,  and  develop  it  for  the  use  of  the  o\itlying  parties  in  the  vicinity,  and  after 
this  was  done  to  commence  work  on  a  detailed  map  of  the  country  embraced  by  the 
mining  interests  of  Virgniia  City,  Nev.,  and  the  neighboring  district. 

I  arrived  in  Carson  City,  NeV.,  August  23,  1876,  and  after  nuiking  the  necessary 
preparations  and  procuring  nupplies,  laborers,  instruments,  &c.,  started  by  wagon, 
August  28,  for  the  valley  of  the  Carson  River,  near  Sutro,  whither  Dr.  Kampf  and  Mr. 
Karl  had  preceded  me  to  select  a  place  for  the  base-line.  On  arriving  in  the  valley 
camp  was  made  on  the  banks  of  the  Carsou  River,  and  as  it  was  to  be  permanent  for 
some  time,  we  made  it  as  comfortable  as  possible.  The  base-line  was  laid  out  on  a  very 
straight  portion  of  the  old  emigrant  road  through  the  valley,  and  the  work  of  devel- 
opment immediately  commenced.  Ou  the  4th  of  September  the  party  was  joined  by 
Mr.  Louis  Seckels,  and  ou  the  10th  of  the  same  month  by  James  Bullock  and  an  ambu- 
lance and  team. 

The  party  now  consisted  of  Second  Lieut.  Thomas  W.  Synions,  Corps  of  Engineers, 
executive  officer  aud  field  astronomer;  Dr.  F.  Kampf,  astronomer ;  Mr.  Anton  Karl, 
topographer;  Mr.  Louis  Seckels,  meteorological  observer;  Mr.  Simon  B.  Cameron, 
aneroid  aud  odometer  recorder;  James  Bullock,  teamster,  and  John  Ralferty,  cook. 

The  base  development  being  finishod,  the  party  separated.  Dr.  Kampf  remaining  at 
Sutro  to  measure  the  base.  In  this  he  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Seckels  and  three  hired  la- 
borers. The  apparatus  used  in  the  measurement  is  the  invention  of  Dr.  Kampf,  and 
consisted  of  a  wooden  rod  with  finely-gradnated  scales  at  both  ends,  and  at  the  center 
an  apparatus  for  determining  its  deviation  from  the  horizontal,  and  three  iron  stands 
with  nickel  tops,  ou  each  of  which  was  engraven  a  fine  line,  this  line  being  the  initial 
point  of  each  successive  measurement  with  the  rod.  Comparisons  of  the  rod  were 
made  every  morning  and  evening  with  the  standard  rods  of  the  United  States  Coast 
Survey,  and  the  reading  of  the  rod  corrected  for  temperature.  A  full  account  of  the 
apparatus,  the  mode  of  its  use,  aud  the  results  obtained,  will  be  found  in  the  report  of 
Dr.  Kamjif. 

On  September  16  I  went  to  Virginia,  City,  with  Mr.  Karl  as  topographer  and  Mr. 
Cameron  as  meteorological  observer,  and  the  necessary  laborers,  and  commenced  work 
on  a  detailed  contour  map  of  the  city  and  vicinity.  This  work  was  done  with  the 
plane-table,  aud  the  method  pursued  was  the  following:  A  number  of  points  were  se- 
lected whose  projections  would  occupy  different  points  on  the  plane-table  sheet,  and 
these  were  occupied  with  the  transit,  and  their  positions  carefully  computed  iii  refer- 
ence to  the  base  and  the  monument  points  used  in  its  development.  These  points  then 
being  laid  down  on  the  plane-table  formed  the  foundation  for  the  detailed  work,  which 
was  done  by  Mr.  Karl.  Other  points  were  occupied  with  the  transit  during  the  time 
that  the  sheet  was  being  filled  in,  and  these,  together  with  cross-sight  stations,  being 
computed,  formed  checks  which  were  continually  applied  to  the  plane-table  work.  At 
each  of  the  points  occupied  by  the  plane-table,  and  at  many  others,  as  hills,  ravines, 
canons,  road-crossings,  saddles,  mesas,  &c.,  barometric  observations  were  taken  for 
altitude,  which,  being  referred  to  synchronous  observations  taken  in  camp  under  the 
same  natural  existing  circumstances  of  atmospheric  pressure,  temperature,  and 
humidity,  gave  very  accurate  relative  altitudes,  and  the  altitude  of  the  camp,  being 
determined  by  a  long  series  of  observations,  enabled  us  to  determine  the  elevations  of 
all  the  poiiits  above  mentioned  above  the  sea-level  very  accurately.  Besides  the  bar- 
ometric readings,  elevatious  to  well-determined  points  were  read  from  the  vertical 
limb  of  the  trausit  aud  from  the  alidade  of  the  plane-table,  aud  level-lines  run  with  the 
Y-level.  From  these  data  the  contours  are  being  put  in  in  the  otHce  of  the  survey  at 
Washington. 

The  constant  aim  has  been  to  secure  the  greatest  accuracy  and  to  leave  no  natural 
feature  of  the  surface  or  work  of  any  importance  unrepresented,  and  Mr.  Karl,  for  his 
intelligent  devotion  to  the  work  and  his  care  and  accuracy,  deserves  the  greatest  credit. 

Three  plane-table  sheets  were  filled  in,  two  to  a  scale  of  1,000  feet  to  an  inch,  and 
one  to  a  scale  of  500  feet  to  an  inch,  the  larger  scale  being  used  in  delineating  that  por- 
tion of  the  country  including  Virginia  City.  The  country  gone  over  includes  Virginia 
City  and  the  northern  portion  of  the  Comstocklode,  the  country  to  the  north  and  west 


1258  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

traversed  by  tlie  Geis^er  grade,  aud  that  to  the  east  embracing  the  basin  between 
Mounts  Emma  and  Davidson. 

Dr.  Kampf,  after  finishing  the  base  measurement,  went  to  Virginia  City  and  deter- 
mined the  azimntii  of  tlie  triangulation  lines  from  the  astronomical  monument,  and  on 
October  23  started  for  Washiugion.  Mr.  Seckeis  j'tined  the  party  in  Virginia  City  and 
devoted  himself  with  assiduity  aud  intelligence  to  the  necessary  meteorological  work. 
November  20,  I  received  orders  to  proceed  to  Carson  City  to  disband  for  the  season, 
where  I  arrived  November  21).  After  spending  two  weeks  in  Carson,  seeing  to  the 
storage  and  shipment  of  public  property,  taking  inventories,  ami  acting  as  member  of 
a  board  of  survey,  I  started  for  W;ishingtou  <ni  the  r)th  of  Deoeinber.  In  obedience  to 
verbal  orders  from  Lieut.  S.  E.  Tillman,  in  charge  of  disbanding  the  California  section 
of  the  survey,  I  stopped  at  Ogden,  Utah,  aud  made  au  inspection  of  the  Government 
observatory  there,  and  au  inventory  of  all  the  public  property  pertaii'ing  to  the  expe- 
dition, the  reports  of  which  have  been  suhmitted  to  Lieutenant  Wheeler. 

On  my  arrival  in  Washington  I  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  meteorological  records 
and  computations,  and  also  to  supervise  the  compilation  and  reduction  of  the  plane- 
table  work.  I  have  carefully  recouipnted  all  the  positions  used  in  the  tield  aud  several 
others,  which  will  give  the  foundation  for  the  work  when  it  is  next  taken  up  in  the 
field. 

DESCRIPTIVE    REPORT. 

The  area  embraced  in  the  contemplated  and  partly  constructed  detailed  contour 
map  is  12|  miles  long  from  north  to  south  and  S)^  miles  broad  from  east  to  west,  and 
contains  within  its  limits  the  richest  mines  of  silver  and  gold  of  which  the  world  of 
to-day  has  any  knowledge.  About  12  miles  to  the  east  of  the  summits  of  the  Sierra 
Nevada  Mountains,  a  little  northeast  of  Lake  Tahoe,  in  the  midf't  of  piled-up  masses  of 
volcanic  rocks  of  all  kinds,  where  during  the  summer  rain  never  falls,  and  where 
nothiog  grows  but  sage-brush  ;  where  the  mind  of  man  can  imagine  nothing  to  add  to 
the  scene  to  make  it  one  of  more  cheerless  grandeur  and  desolation,  is  situated  the 
famed  Corastock  lode.  Above  the  lode  aud  its  branches  have  been  built  the  towus  of 
Virginia,  Gold  Hill,  Silver  City,  and  American  Flat,  in  which  are  situated  the  upper 
works  of  the  mines  and  their  many  adjuncts.  Immediately  connected  with  it  by  vir- 
tue of  their  ore  mills  are  the  towns  of  Dayton  and  Empire,  and  from  being  the  outlet 
of  the  Sutro  Tunnel  is  the  town  of  Sutro.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  these  pla'  es 
in  detail,  but  shall  simply  note  some  observations  of  my  own  and  some  of  the  changes 
which  have  taken  place  since  other  reports  have  been  written,  and  which  are  con- 
tinually taking  place. 

At  the  time  when  Mr.  Clarence  King  wrote  his  report  upon  the  geology  of  the  Com- 
stock,  it  was  considered  that  the  portion  of  the  lode  between  the  Gould  and  Curry, 
and  the  north  line  of  the  Ceutral,  corresponding  to  the  south  side  of  the  Ophir,  was 
unproductive,  and  from  the  apparent  closing  in  of  the  walls  it  was  supposed  that  it 
never  would  develop  into  anything  of  much  value.  Since  then,  however,  under  the 
names  of  the  Consolidated  Virgiuia  and  California,  this  region  has  developed  the  Big 
Bonanza  miues,  on6,  the  Consolidated  Virginia,  yielding  iu  the  year  1675  alone  the 
enormous  amount  of  $16,731,6.53.43' from  169,095  tons  of  ore  This  is  a  gigantic  illus- 
tration of  the  fact  that  the  vein  is  very  unreliable,  and  that  it  is  not  safe  to  place  very 
much  reliance  on  analogical  reasoning  with  regard  to  it. 

The  old  controversy  as  to  there  being  a  single  vein  of  which  the  outlying  ones  are 
branches  or  spurs  is  still  unsettled,  but  agencies  are  at  work  now  which  will,  in  all 
probability,  settle  the  question  at  law  in  a  few  years  at  the  farthest;  these  agencies 
being  particularly  the  Sutro  Tunnel,  the  Mint  Mine,  and  the  Great  Combination  shaft. 

In  the  report  of  Mr.  King  the  Comstock  lode  is  supposed  to  extend  approximately 
north  and  south  from  the  vicinity  of  the  Utah  Mine,  to  the  mines  in  and  about  Amer- 
ican Flat,  aud  no  mention  is  made  of  a  branch  lode  extending  down  Gold  Canon.  It 
is  generally  conceived  now  that  the  great  lode  branches  near  the  head  of  Gold  Canon, 
and  one  branch  extends  southwestward  toward  and  beyond  the  Rock  Island  Mine  in 
American  Flat,  and  the  ot.her  extends  southeastward  down  the  caiion.  Some  of  the 
most  promising  and  productive  mines  of  all  the  region  are  situated  in  this  latter 
branch,  notably  the  Overman  and  the  Justice,  which  have  both  big  bonanzas,  the 
latter  especially  working  some  very  rich  ore,  of  which  a  specimen  now  in  this  offic 
assays  approximately  $12,000  per  ton. 

Prospecting  and  exploitation  are  still  going  on  iu  a  great  many  places,  both  on  the 
lode  and  off  it,  and  the  horizontal  limits  of  pay-ground  is  not  yet  reached,  or  at  least 
is  far  from  being  determined.  But  many  things  would  go  to  show  that  the  vertical 
limit  of  successful  working  has  been  reached  in  some  of  the  mines  as  long  as  the  pres- 
ent system  prevails.  In  the  Savage  Mine,  n^-arly  or  quite  a  year  ago,  as  a  drift  was 
being  pushed  to  the  east  at  a  depth  of  2,300  feet,  a  heavy  volume  of  hot  water  was  en- 
countered which  drove  the  workmen  back  and  up  the  shaft,  aud,  iu  spite  of  the  pumps, 
continued  to  come  in  until  it  reached  the  1,900-foofi  level.  Since  its  first  influx  larger 
and  more  powerful  pumps  have  been  put  iu  and  kept  at  work  coitinuously  except  for 
accidental  stoppages,  and  at  last  accounts  the  water  was  still  at  about  the  same  level. 
Although  at  times  the  pumps  would  gain  on  the  water,  the  water  would  in  a  short 


APPENDIX    NN.  1259 

time  assert  its  supremacy  and  come  back  to  its  accustomefl  level.  It  also  flooded  a 
neighboring  mine,  the  llalo  and  Norcross,  wliicli  lias  also  been  at  work  pumping  ever 
since,  and  tlins  these  two  mines  are  una  )le  to  proofed  with  any  prolitablc  work  or 
work  of  exploration,  while  there  is  still  an  enormous  dram  on  the  pockets  of  the  stock- 
hohlers  for  the  expenses  of  pumping  and  the  other  expenses  incidental  to  the  flooding 
of  the  mine. 
.  Heretofore  all  the  large  bodies  of  water  struck  in  the  mines  have  been  at  a  higher 
level  and  have  been  rapidly  pniuped  out  and  have  not  returned  in  large  quantity, 
and  this  has  strengthened  the  idea  that  the  water  occurs  in  pockets  or  reservoirs,  and 
that  when  these  are  drained  olf  it  will  cause  no  further  trouble.  This  water  in  the 
Savage  Mine,  however,  seems  to  tell  a  diftereut  story.  It  is  very  hot,  about  1.54° 
to  11)0°  F.,  and  in  all  probability  comes  from  the  same  heated  source  as  the  water 
which  welis  up  from  the  Hot  Springs  in  the  valley  below  at  Steamboat.  As 
these  springs  are  constant,  it  is  altogether  probable  that  the  water  which  enters 
the  Savage  is  also  constant  or  nearly  so,  and  that  it  connects  with  the  heated  water 
which  permeates  in  a  more  or  less  connected  manner  all  the  Hssures  and  subterra- 
nean channels  below.  In  one  mine  which  1  visited,  the  Imperial  and  Empire,  I  de- 
scended to  a  depth  of  2,V.i'i  feet  and  found  the  temperature  to  range  from  110°  to  115°  F. 
There  was  at  least  one  stream  of  hot  water  coming  into  the  mine,  which,  on  testing,  I 
found  to  be  154°  F.  In  other  parts  of  the  world,  where  mines  have  been  sunk  very 
deep,  it  has  been  found  that  on  an  average  the  temperature  increases  1°  F.  for  every  50 
to  60  feet  of  descent  from  the  depth  at  which  the  temperature  first  becomes  con- 
stant, which  is  abont  100  feet  below  the  surface  ;  this  constant  temperature  being,  as 
near  as  it  can  be  deteruiined,  47°  F.  Assuming  55  feet  to  be  the  equivalent  in  descent 
of  1°  F.,  we  have  in  the  Imperial  and  Empire 

^^       55ft.  +47°F.  =  840F. 

or,  according  to  this  rnle,  the  temperature  at  the  depth  of  2,135  feet  should  be840' 
Instead  of  this,  and  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  great  quantities  of  cold  air  are  pumped 
in,  it  reaches  in  places  as  high  as  110°  and  115°  F.  Undoubtedly  the  cause  of  this 
great  heat  is  the  iupouriug  and  circulating  hot  water,  which  comes  in  quite  large 
quantities,  the  amount  pumped  from  the  mine  being  about  6  miner's  inches.  There 
are  two  hypotheses  to  account  for  this  heated  water  :  one  being  that  it  is  heated  by 
the  chemical  action  going  on  in  some  mineral  or  other  vein  through  which  it  passes.  It  is 
asserted  and  believed  by  many  that  as  the  hot  Savage  water  came  in  from  the  east,  when 
the  exploration  shall  be  pushed  on  eastward  a  vein  of  the  same  general  character  as  the 
Comstock  wid  be  struck,  the  chemical  action  in  which  is  the  cause  of  the  heating  of  the 
water.  The  supposition  that  such  a  vein  exists  is  no  doubt  very  materially  strengthened 
by  the  existence  of  this  hot-water  stream,  but  it  can  scarcely  be  considered  as  proof.  The 
other  hypothesis,  and  to  my  mind  the  more  plausible  one,  is  that  the  water  comes  up  from 
the  heated  interior  of  the  earth.  The  water  which  falls  to  the  earth  in  the  form  of 
rain  and  snc^,  and  which  penetrates  below  the  surface,  exists  in  many  conditions 
•throughout  the  crust  of  the  earth,  sometimes  occurring  in  pockets,  which  are  filled 
slowly  by  infiltration  or  narrow  inlets,  but  which  on  being  struck  empty  themselves 
quickly  and  are  no  further  cause  of  troulde  ;  sometimes  in  large  fissures  through  which 
the  water  is  continually  circulating,  and  which,  on  being  struck,  give  an  almost  uuin- 
termitted  sti'eam  for  mouths  and  years.  Such  a  fissure  exists  in  the  Sutro  Tunnel,  and 
it  is  oljserved  that  when  such  a  fissure-vein  of  water  is  encountered,  it  diminishes  its 
yield  fi)r  some  time  until  it  reaches  a  point  when  it  becomes  constant.  This  may  be 
accounted  for  on  the  supposition  of  connecting  pockets,  which  are  gradually  drained 
off.  This  water  finally  finds  its  way  down  to  the  heated  interior  of  the  earth  and  is 
there  converted  into  steam,  which  in  its  eftorts  to  rise  forces  back  the  water,  and  thus 
an  equilibrium  is  attained,  the  water  aud  fire  making  the  steam  and  the  st»-ain  holding 
the  water  in  suspension.  The  steam  in  its  eflurts  to  escape  percolates  up  through  the 
water  aud  heats  it,  and  this  in  turn  '  eats  the  surrounding  rocks,  and  possibly  is  the 
cause,  not  the  effect,  of  the  chemical  action  which  is  continually  going  on  in  the  min- 
eral veins.  When  this  hot  water  aud  steam  can  find  a  direct  outlet  to  the  surface,  they 
appear  in  the  form  of  hot  springs  and  geysers;  when  they  cannot,  they  give  up  their 
heat  to  the  rocks  and  the  down- pouring  cold  surface-water.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  mine  in  which  this  water  occurs  is  debarred  from  further  downward  progress  if  the 
water  remains  constaut,  unless  some  new  method  of  drainage  is  found  and  adopted; 
for  if  it  were  possible  to  keep  it  down  by  a  great  addition  to  the  pumping  force,  it 
would  cost  so  much  that  the  mine  would  be  totally  unprofitable.  What  this  new 
method  of  drainage  will  be  remains  to  be  seen.  Possibly  it  may  be  the  Sutro  Tunnel. 
The  tunnel  has  now  reached  a  length  of  between  1.5,000  and  16.000  feet,  aud  is  being 
pushed  forward  with  marvelous  celerity,  making  on  an  average  300  feet  per  month  in 
length.  It  will,  ^x  hen  it  reaches  its  entire  length,  (which  it  will  probably  do  in  the 
spring  of  1879,)  strike  the  Comstock,  near  the  Savage,  at  a  depth  below  the  surface  of 
about  1,900  feet,  and  then  the  water  which  may  impede  the  working  of  the  mine  will 
have  to  be  pumped  a  vertical  distance  of  1,900  feet  less  than  now.     It  is  altogether 


1260  EEPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

possible  that,  with  the  present  engine-force,  which  now  maizes  no  permanent  headway 
against  the  water,  the  water  may  be  raised  to  the  tunnel-level  and  run  off  through  it 
to  the  Carsou  River.  At  any  rate,  it  will  very  much  facilitate  the  keeping  down  of  the 
water  and  will  afford  a  new  foundation  1,900  feet  below  the  surface  from  which  to  work 
As  with  tlie  Savage,  so  with  the  other  mines  which  are  much  troubled  with  water ; 
when  the  tunnel  or  one  of  its  branches  reaches  them,  it  will  take  off  the  water  which 
comes  in  above  the  tunnel-level,  and  will  lessen  very  much  the  work  of  pumping  out 
that  which  comes  in  below.  It  will  also  greatly  assist  in  ventilation  ;  but  in  regard  to 
its  merits  in  this  respect  I  am  unable  to  speak. 

As  regards  the  feasibility  of  using  the  tunnel  for  the  extraction  of  ore,  it  admits  of 
'  discussion,  and  can  only  be  decided  when  the  time  comes.  Tbe  ore  now,  after  being 
hoisted,  is  taken  from  the  shaft,  and  in  some  instances,  as  the  Bonanza  Mines,  is  milled 
very  near  the  mine;  in  others,  it  is  hauled  in  wagons  to  various  distances  from  one  to 
three  or  four  miles,  and  in  others  still  it  is  taken  by  the  railroad  to  the  mills  along  the 
Carson  a  distance  of  from  12  to  15  miles.  If  the  ore  when  taken  from  the  tunnel- 
mouth  should  be  conveyed  to  the  present  existing  mills  and  reduced,  it  would  unques- 
tionably be  more  expensive  than  now;  but  if  new  mills  should  be  built  near  the  tun- 
nel-mouth and  run  by  the  tunnel-water,  or  built  on  the  banks  of  the  Carson  River, 
just  below,  in  my  opinion  the  ore  could  be  reduced  at  a  much  lower  cost  than  at 
present,  and  the  ore  which  now  is  too  poor  to  work  or  which  barely  pays  for  milling 
might  be  made  to  pay  a  good  profit.  The  capacity  of  the  tunnel  of  course  woubl  be 
limited ;  but  with  a  double  track,  and  care  and  economy  in  its  service,  it  would  probably 
meet  all  the  demands  upon  it. 

Situated,  as  the  Comstock  is,  in  the  midst  of  a  dry,  totally-unproductive  desert,  over 
6,000  feet  above  sea-level,  on  the  side  of  a  mountain,  needing  and  using  vast  quantities 
of  supplies  of  various  kinds,  it  may  not  be  wholly  uninteresting  or  uninstructive  to 
inquire  as  to  the  nature  and  source  of  these  supplies,  and  the  methods  of  getting  them 
to  their  destination. 

One  of  the  first  wants  felt  by  the  pioneers  of  the  Comstock  was  water,  and  it  was 
procured  in  very  limited  quantities  from  a  few  springs  in  the  vicinity.  As  the  lode  be- 
came more  and  more  developed,  the  mines  and  mills  and  the  gathering  people  demanded 
more  and  more  water,  and  the  want  of  it  was  severely  felt.  The  mills  sunk  shafts  and 
drifted  for  water,  and  a  good  deal  was  obtained  from  the  tunnels  driven  into  the  mount- 
ains in  search  of  the  precious  metals.  A  company  was  finally  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
gathering  and  furnishing  water,  and  their  supply  was  chiefly  obtained  from  the  pros- 
pecting tunnels  and  conducted  in  pipes  about  Virginia  City  and  Gold  Hill.  But  the 
supply  was  still  far  from  sufftcient  and  the  quality  very  bad,  and  the  company  finally 
achieved  a  great  triumph  in  hydraulic  engineering  by  bringing  to  the  cities  of  the 
Comstock  an  abundant  supply  of  fresh  and  clear  mountain  water  from  the  summit 
streams  and  Jakes  of  tbe  Sierras.  The  water  is  now  taken  from  Ball's  Creek,  in  the 
Sierras,  but  the  company  are  extending  their  flume  to  tap  Marlette's  Lake,  from  whence 
nearly  all  the  water  will  be  taken.  This  lake  is  1,600  feet  above  Virginia  City  and 
within  a  mile  of  Lake  Tahoe.  The  water  will  be  conducted  in  a  woodln  flume  in  a 
northerly  direction  for  about  5  miles,  then,  passing  under  the  mountains  through  a 
tunnel  nearly  a  mile  long,  it  pursues  its  winding  way  in  a  flume  for  G  miles,  wiieu  it 
reaches  the  point  where  it  becomes  necessary  to  make  the  descent  into  the  Washoe 
Valley  below.  There  it  is  received  into  a  double  line  of  iron  pipes,  which  conduct  it 
down  to  and  across  the  valley  and  up  the  opposite  mountain.  The  pipes  are,  one.  12 
inches  in  dianjeter  and  riveted  with  f-inch  bolts.  It  is-]^g-inch  thick  at  the  lowest  point, 
where  the  pressure  is  greatest,  and  tapers  from  this  point  to  the  entrance  and  exit, 
where  it  is  only  -r\j-inch  thick.  The  other  is  a  10-inch  pipe,  lap-welded,  and  of  uniform 
thickness.  From  the  point  of  entering  the  pipe  the  water  makes  a  descent  of  1,963 
feet  in  a  horizontal  distance  of  1^  miles  into  Washoe  Valley.  There  it  commences  to 
ascend  until  it  reaches  a  point  1,498  feet  above  the  lowest  point,  at  a  distance  of  6 
miles  from  it.  Here  it  is  again  received  into  a  flume,  and  is  conducted  circling  about 
the  mountain-slopes  a  distance  of  about  S  miles,  until  it  reaches  its  destination.  The 
flume  has  a  fall  of  1  foot  to  each  44  feet  horizontal  distance.  The  amount  supplied 
now  is  about  3,000,000  gallons  daily,  but  its  capacity,  when  fully  completed,  will  be 
more  than  10,000,000  gallons  daily. 

The  mines  and  mills  devour  a  vast  amount  of  fuel  and  lumber.  In  that  volcano- 
formed  land  there  is  no  coal,  and  the  fires  must  be  fed  with  wood.  All  the  wood  which 
grew  about  the  Comstock  was  used  up  long  ago,  and  now,  as  before  in  the  case  of  water, 
it  is  the  Sierras  which  furnish  the  supply.  This  is  taken  from  the  great  basin  about 
Lake  Tahoe,  and  from  the  eastern  sunnuits  above  Huffaker's,  and  is  brought  down  the 
mountains  in  flumes,  which  are  gradunlly  extended  backward  as  the  supply  is  exhausted. 
There  are  saw-millson  the  mountains  at  which  is  cut  the  square  timber  and  the  lumber 
used  in  the  mines  and  in  the  cities.  The  flumes  are  so  constructed  that  timber  40 
feet  long  can  be  sent  down.  The  wood  and  lumber  when  it  reaches  the  valley  is 
mostly  taken  by  the  Virginia  and  Truckee  Railroad,  and  conveyed  to  the  places  where 
it  is  to  be  used.  Immense  quantities  of  wood  are  also  floated  down  the  Carson  River 
to  Empire,  Dayton,  and  Satro,  and  it  is  estimated  that  at  least  250,000  cords  of  wood 


APPENDIX    NN. 


1261 


are  annually  used  by  the  Comstock  and  its  co-operating  industries.  This  inunense 
amount  of  wood  niaj'  be  better  conceived  of  wben  we  remember  that  if  it  should  be 
piled  up  8  feet  hij^li  it  would  cover  an  area  of  100  acres.  The  square  timber  is  used  in 
great  ([uautities  in  the  luiues,  in  the  construction  of  galleries,  shafts,  inclines,  «fcc.,  and 
in  stopiug. 

The  fertile  plains  and  hill-sides  of  California  furnish  the  subsistence  for  the  men  and 
women  of  the  Con)stock,  and  for  their  horses,  mules,  and  cattle  ;  and  the  miinufaclories 
of  the  Pacific  coast  provide  most  of  tiie  machinery  for  the  mines  and  mills,  although 
some  com-  s  from  the  far-otl"  Eastern  States. 

As  everywhere  on  the  Pacific  side  of  ihe  Rocky  Mountains,  there  are  great  numbers 
of  Chinamen  about  the  Comstock.  They  are  not  allowed  to  be  employed  in  the  mines 
or  mills,  or  in  any  of  the  work  connected  therewith,  being  prevented  by  the  miners' 
union.  They  tind  employment  as  laundry-men,  as  household  servants,  as  ))ed(llers  of 
vegetables,  and  as  gatherers  of  garbage  and  wood.  The  wood  business  is  a  fine  illus- 
tration of  how  a  thrifty  race  can  make  money  out  of  the  most  unpromising  materials. 
A  Chinaman  gets  a  donkey  and  a  pack-saddle,  and  spends  all  his  time  during  the 
summer  going  out  on  the  hills  and  grubbing  ui>  the  stumps  and  roots  of  the  fir  and 
pine  trees  which  were  long  ago  cut  down.  When  he  gets  as  much  as  his  donkey 
can  carry,  he  loads  him  up  and  drives  him  back  to  the  place  where  he  has  his  wood- 
pile. It  is  a  picturesque,  but  not  a  pleasant,  sight  to  see  a  dirty  Chinaman  driving  an 
overloaded  donkey,  i)ossibly  lame  and  trembling  with  pain  and  exhaustion,  along  some 
lonely  road.  In  the  winter,  when  the  snow  is  on  the  ground  and  the  roads  are  impassa- 
ble in  the  country,  John  loads  up  his  donkey  with  the  smallest  amount  of  wood  which 
will  make  a  respectable  showing,  and  travels  about  the  streets  in  search  of  some  one 
who  wants  his  load  of  wood  more  than  they  want  a  dollar.  The  Chinamen  have  never 
succeeded  in  making  friends  of  the  white  men,  and  I  cannot  but  think  that  the  cause 
lies  in  their  utter  inoft'ensiveuess.  They  will  submit  tamely  to  all  kinds  of  neglect, 
contempt,  and  abuse,  and  this  only  begets  the  feeling  in  the  mind  of  the  strong,  hearty, 
world-buffeting  American  or  European  that  they  are  unworthy  of  any  consideration. 
In  the  land  of  fighting-men,  they  are  the  non-fighters,  the  cringing  class;  and  as  long 
as  they  are  so,  they  will  be  treated  in  the  same  manner  as  at  present. 

All  the  supplies,  machinery,  wood,  lumber,  &c.,  are  brought  to  the  market  by  the 
Virginia  and  Truckee  Railroad,  which  is  itself  a  wonder  in  that  laud  of  wonders.  It 
was  first  completed  from  Virginia  to  Carson  in  the  winter  of  1869  and  1870,  and  has 
since  been  extended  to  connect  with  the  Central  Pacific  at  Reno.  It  is  an  immense 
auxiliary  to  the  mining  interests  of  Nevada,  as  we  see  when  we  consider  the  vast 
amount  of  freight  of  all  kinds  carried  and  the  great  use  it  is  in  transporting  ore  to  the 
mills. 

There  are  at  the  present  time  about  fifty  mines  being  worked  or  prospected  on  the 
Comstock  and  its  branches,  but  of  this  number  there  are  only  five  or  six  which  pay  ex- 
penses; all  the  rest  are  working  on  assessments.  There  are  about  400  incorporations 
fin  the  Comstock,  employing  a  nominal  capital  of  $3,000,000,000.  This  would  be  the 
actual  value  of  the  mines  incorporated  with  the  stock  at  [)ar.  Their  values,  at  the 
ruling  prices  of  June  1, 1S7G,  according  to  the  San  Francisco  Stock  and  Exchange  Board, 
was  $163,580,000. 

The  following  table,  taken  from  the  report  of  the  State  assessor  for  the  quarter  end- 
ing September  30,  1S7(),  will  give  an  idea  of  the  condition  of  the  principal  mines  : 


Abstract  statement  from  the  quarterly  assessment-roll  of  the  lyroceeds  of  the  mines  of  Storey 
County,  Nevada,  for  the  quarter  ending  September  30,  1376. 


Name. 


Belcher* 

California 

Consolidated  Vir- 

einia.  t 
Chollar-Potosi*. ., 

Crown  Point  * 

Imperial 

Justice  t 

Ophirt 

Overman* 


Total. 


O 


30,936  $18 
53,061  97 
15, 660     9" 


6,720 
4,783 
1,515 
6,911 
27,  358 
439 


S566,  976. 10 
5, 156,  026.  84 
1,  533,  308.  64 

129.  998.  47 

65,  676.  3." 

94,  8.57.  OC 

214,  971.  .3(1 

969,  096.  7i 

11,  393.  40 


7,  742,  305.  00 


^216, 552.  00 
354,  881.  48 
315,  850.  05 

142, 167.  83 


15, 1.53.  50 

62,  203.  50 

273,  585.  00 

17,  560.  0( 


_  o 

O    t.    CO 


1351,  866.  00 
742,  643.  70 
191,  660. 30 

74,  860.  GO 


18, 180.  00 

76,  025.  50 

328,  302.  00 

5,  278.  44 


$568,  418.  00 
1,  445,  468.  43 
1,  145,  036.  64 

217,  027.  83 
17(1,  000.  .53 

33,  333.  50 
141,  684.  50 
601,  8m.  00 

22,  838.  44 


4, 3«,  794.  e: 


$113,39.1.22 

3,  710,  55H.  41 

613,  323.  45 

25,  999.  6i' 
13.  135.  27 
61,  523.  5( 
85,  988.  5-1 
387.  638.  m 
2,  278.  69 


5,013,841.5; 


J9,  335.  10 


*80  per  cent,  (ieducted  by  law  and  exempt  from  taxation, 
too  per  cent,  deducted  by  law  and  exempt  from  taxation. 


1262        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

It  will  be  seen  from  an  examination  of  the  table  that  the  only  mines  which  have  a 
paying  record  are  the  California,  Consolidated  Virginia,  Imperial,  Justice,  and  Ophir 
The  climate  about  Virginia  City  is  wonderfully  fine  for  the  health  and  spirits  of 
human  beings.  Ail  through  the  summer  it  very  seldom  rains,  and  tlie  meteorological 
records  show  an  almost  unbroken  succession  of  cloudless,  warm  days  and  cool,  delight- 
ful nights.  The  dryness  of  the  atmosphere  makes  the  heat  very  easy  to  bear,  as  long 
as  the  system  has  enough  liquid  to  evaporate  freely.  The  thermometer  had  a  range 
^very  often  of  from  3.5<^  to  50°  in  the  shade  in  a  single  day.  One  day  I  tested  the  sand 
on  the  plain  below  Sutro,  and  found  it  to  be  heated  by  the  sun's  rays  to  135°  F.  That 
same  night  the  thermometer  went  down  to  44°  F. 

I  wish  to  expi'ess  my  thanks  to  every  member  of  my  party  for  their  unceasing 
and  cheerful  co-operation,  and  to  the  citizens  of  Virginia  and  the  neighboring  towns 
for  their  uniform  courtesy  and  kindness,  and  their  readiness  to  aid  us  by  every  means 
in  their  power. 

Very  respectfully, 

Thomas  W.  Symons, 
Second  Lieutenant  of  Engineers. 
Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Wheeler, 

Corps  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


Appendix  D. 


EXECUTIVE  AND  DESCRIPTIVE  REPORT  OF  LIEUTENANT  R.  BIRNIE,  JR.,  THIRTEENTH  IN- 
FANTRY, ON  THE  OPERATIONS  OF  PARTY  NO.  4,  CALIFORNIA  SECTION,  FIELD  SEASON 
OF   1876. 

United  States  Engineer  Office, 
Geographical  Surveys  West  of  the  100th  Meridian, 
Washington,  D.  C,  April  15,  1877. 
Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  tha  following  report  of  the  operations  of  Party  No. 

4,  California  Section,  of  the  survey  for  the  field  season  of  1876. 

The  party  was  organized  at  Carson  on  the  1st  of  September ;  Lieut.  R.  Birnie, 
executive  officer ;  J.  C.  Spillor,  topographer;  W.  A.  Cowles,  meteorological  recorder; 

5.  F.  Wood,  odometer  recorder;  Benjamin  P.  French,  packer;  Joseph  Easten,  assistant 
packer ;  George  Willig,  cook ;  Private  Peter  D.  Niver,  Company  D,  Twelfth  Infantry. 

We  were  provided  with  one  10-inch  and  one'20-inch  triangulation  instrument,  ( Wiirde- 
mann's,)  two  small  theodolites,  (Young  &  Sons,)  pocket-compasses,  two  cistern  and  three 
aneroid  barometers,  (Green,)  and  wet  and  dry  bulb  and  maximum  and  minimum  ther» 
mometers;  the  meterological  instruments  having  all  been  compared  with  standards, 
and  a  final  comparison  of  the  barometers  made  just  before  leaving  Carson.  Rations 
for  twenty-five  days  were  taken  here,  which,  with  instruments,  bedding,  &c.,  made  a 
little  more  than  220  pounds  per  mule  for  the  ten  pack-mules.  The  number  of  riding- 
mnles  was  eight;  we  had  also  one  extra  mule  and  one  bell-mare. 

I  was  instructed  to  complete  with  the  party  the  surveys  of  Atlas-sheets  48  C  and  D, 
a  previous  expedition  under  this  survey  having  passed  through  the  eastern  portion  of 
48  D,  and  Clarence  King's  survey  of  the  fortieth  parallel  having  embraced  about  two- 
fifths  of  the  area  of  the  sheets,  along  the  north  line,  thus  leaving  us  a  belt  of  country 
running  east  and  west  about  116  miles,  and  north  and  south  36  miles,  Austin,  Nev., 
being  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  area.  It  was  found  necessary,  however,  to  extend 
our  routes  considerably  beyond  these  limits,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  trian- 
gulation, and  in  these  cases  topographical  notes  were  taken  as  well.  Fremont  in  1844 
and  1845,  and  more  particularly  Simpson  in  1859,  had  partially  explored  this  country. 

DESCRIPTION   of   THE   ROUTE. 

We  left  Carson  City  September  5,  and,  passing  through  Empire  and  Dayton,  made 
our  first  camp,  with  the  party  of  Lieutenant  Symons,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Carson, 
a  fevi^  miles  below  Dayton.  The  following  day  Mr.  S]>iller  and  myself  climbed  a  peak 
about  8  miles  to  the  north  of  this  camp,  to  determine,  if  possible,  something  of  the 
mountainous  character  of  the  country  we  were  about  to  enter  ;  but  the  point  proved 
too  low,  and  a  topographical  station  was  made.  It  was  deemed  necessary  to  occupy 
Mount  Lyon,  the  highest  peak  in  the  vicinity,  in  order  to  connect  our  triangulation 
with  the  base  being  measured  and  developed  by  Lieutenant  Symons's  party. 

At  Camp  No.  1  the  party  was  divided.  Mr.  Cowles,  with  the  pack-train,  proceeded 
down  the  Carson  to  Bucklaud's  ranch,  one  day's  march,  meandering  the  route  close 
along  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  passing  ranches  at  intervals  along  the  river,  and  the 


APPENDIX    NN.  IZbd 

site  of  Old  Fort  Churchill.      This  was  abandoned  several  years  since  ;  tlie   adobe 
bnildings  are  still  standing  in  part,  but  the  wood-work  has  been  all  removed. 

The  remainder  of  our  party  forded  the  Carson  at  the  camp,  and,  passing  by  the  west 
of  Mount  Kaw,  a  few  miles  from  the  river  came  upon  and  followed  the  still  excel- 
lent road  that  leads  from  Dayton  to  the  old  mining  town  of  Como.  This  place,  now 
entirely  deserted,  is  situated  at  the  summit  and  in  the  first  saddle  of  the  Como  range, 
south  of  Mount  Raw.  In  1863  it  was  a  tlonrishiiig  tfjwu,  and  we  were  told  two  daily 
Hues  of  stages  were  running  between  the  town  and  Dayton.  The  mines  proved  unre- 
muuerative,  and  it  was  soon  abandoned,  the  renuiins  of  two  or  three  houses  now 
alone  remaining.  Wood  in  small  quantities  is  hauled  from  the  vicinity  to  Virginia 
City.  There  are  two  springs,  one  on  each  side  of  the  divide,  and  about  a  mile  from 
the  summit.  Several  more  s))ringH  were  found  along  the  eastern  slope  of  Mount  Lyon, 
being  about  the  head  of  Churchill  Ciiiion,  that  nins  to  east  from  the  range,  and  then 
turns  north  into  the  Carson  ;  waier  flows  only  in  the  upper  ])art  of  the  canon. 

Mount  Lyon  was  occupied  September  8,  and  proved  a  most  valuable  station.  This 
is  the  higliest  peak  in  the  Como  range,  and  is  distinctly  visible  from  Carson  City, 
from  which  it  is  about  16  miles  distant,  and  bears  nearly  due  east.  Mount  Kaw  is  in 
the  same  range,  .5  miles  to  the  north.  Every  prominent  point  afterward  occupied  was 
visible  from  Lyon.  The  Toyabe  range  to  the  east,  12.5  miles  distant,  the  limit  of  our 
area  in  that  direction,  formed  the  horizon.  Irregular  low  broken,  and  barren  hills 
and  desert  flats  seemed  to  extend  to  the  great  flat  of  the  Humboldt,  and  Carson  sink 
and  lake  ;  the  Carson  River,  winding  eastwardly  through  these,  was  marked  by  a  line 
of  Cottonwood  trees  ;  and  to  the  southeast,  some  20  miles  distant,  appeared  the  north 
bend  of  the  Walker  River,  where,  according  to  report,  (except  in  Reese  River  Valley, 
away  to  the  eastward,)  we  would  find  the  only  agricultural  settlements,  or  country 
worth  the  farmer's  toil.     The  rest  was  pictured  as  very  barren  indeed. 

Just  beyond  the  great  flat  appeared  the  Sand  Spring  range,  running  north  and  south. 
The  range  is  much  depressed  about  the  Sand  Spring  Pass,  and  this  depression  con- 
tinues to  the  next  range,  (although  the  two  are  separated  by  the  Fairview  Valley;) 
there  it  is  the  wash  flowing  westwardly,  through  Middle  and  West  Gate,  into  Fairview 
Valley  that  cuts  the  range  through  and  leaves  no  summit  to  surmount.  The  Fairview 
Peaks  rise  abruptly  on  the  south  side  of  the  wash  ;  while  on  the  north  several  parallel 
ridges  of  low  hills  rise  steadily  higher,  and  converge  to  Grant's  Peak  and  the  well- 
marked  range  to  its  north.  The  Desatoya  range,  still  farther  east,  rises  abruptly 
■across  this  low  vista,  and  gives  the  source  of  the  drain  through  West  Gate.  Beyond 
the  Desatoya  could  be  seen  the  tops  of  the  peaks  in  the  Shoshone  range,  and  beyond 
these  the  Toyabe,  the  highest  of  all,  and  running  north  and  south  with  the  others. 
The  mountains  looked,  in  the  distance,  barren  enough,  the  valleys  misty,  and  the  whole 
doubly  intf resting  to  us  entering  it  as  almost  entirely  strange;  for  it  was  remarkable 
how  little  information  could  be  obtained  of  it  in  Carson  City. 

It  was  seen  that  our  primary  triangulatiou  must  depend  almost  wholly  upon  points, 
without  our  area,  and  a  scheme  was  projected  by  Mr.  Spiller  which  was  afterward  suc- 
cessfully carried  out. 

From  Mount  Lyon  to  Buckland's,  to  join  the  party  by  a  direct  route,  we  passed  over  a 
plateau  of  igneous  rock  to  the  east  of  the  divide.  This  is  a  good  range  for  cattle,  and  a 
number  were  seen  about.  In  the  abrupt  descent  from  this  plateau  to  the  Carson  we 
found  ourselves  in  a  canon  where  the  intricate  mass  of  bowlders  and  the  steep  sides 
made  the  passage  almost  impracticable;  finally,  coming  upon  Churchill  Canon,  which, 
toward  its  mouth,  is  a  broad  open  drain,  we  followed  to  its  junction  with  the  Carson, 
just  opposite  old  Fort  Churchill,  and  thence  about  two  miles  along  the  south  bank  of 
the  river,  and  crossed  the  bridge  at  Buckland's.  Mr.  Cowles  came  in  late  the  same 
evening,  having  encountered  a  rough  ascent  over  lava  rock  in  occui>ying  a  station 
upon  the  ridge  between  the  Carson  and  Walker  Rivers. 

A  low  peak  just  north  of  old  Fort  Churchill  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Spiller,  and  called 
Churchill  Butte.  September  11  we  left  this  camp  in  two  parties;  the  one  to  proceed 
by  the  wagon-road  to  Wadsworth,  to  occupy  Tu-til  Peak,  near  that  place,  and  to  pro- 
ceed thence  to  a  rendezvous  on  the  Carson  at  Ragtown ;  the  other  followed  the  road 
along  the  north  bank  of  the  river  and  camped  at  Gates's  ranch.  Here  Mr.  Cowles  and 
myself  forded  the  river  and  occupied  a  station  in  the  low  range  south  of  it.  This  is  a 
range  of  barren  hills  in  a  desert ;  they  have  caused  the  river  to  turn  away  sharply  to 
the  north  to  find  a  passage  for  itself.  Late  at  night  we  recrossed  the  river  to  camp, 
with  the  pack-train  at  the  Log  Cabin.  The  river  was  too  deep  for  the  packs  to  cross ; 
they  consequently  moved  along  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  and  had  traveled  abour 
ten  miles.  The  next  day  we  followed  the  river-bank  and  arrived  at  Ragtown.  This 
is  a  rather  dreary-looking  place,  containing  only  a  couple  of  houses  ;  there  is  no  culti- 
vated ground.  It  is  the  first  station  and  the  first  good  water  out  from  Wadsworth,  on 
the  freight-road  south  from  that  place  to  Belleville,  Ellsworth,  and  lone.  Rugtown 
was  a  station  on  the  overland  staiie-road,  which  was  running  until  the  Pacific  Railroad 
was  finished.  It  is  also  the  southern  terminus  of  the  40-mile  desert  of  the  emigrant- 
route  via  the  Humboldt  River.     The  desert  road  extended  from  Humboldt  Lake  to 


1264  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

Ragtown.  To  be  compelled  to  ahaudou  there  the  exhausted  cattle,  with  tlieir  wagons, 
was  no  uncommon  occuneuce  with  the  emigrants.     The  road  is  not  traveled  now. 

The  water  of  the  Carson  is  made  very  muddy  by  the  working  of  the  mills  upon  its 
banks  in  the  vicinity  of  Empire  and  elsewhere;  while  the  soil  of  it.s  banks  is  also  ex- 
ceedingly clayey  and  alkaline.  Below  old  Fort  Churchill  fording  the  river  is  by  no 
means  safe.  As  far  as  Gates's  (Camp  No.  3)  mtich  of  the  land  in  the  Immediate  vicinity 
of  the  river  is  taken  u()  and  fenced  in  ;  a  little  is  cultivated,  but  it  is  better  adapted 
for  hay-ranches.     Hay  and  Vtntte'r,  for  sale  about  the  mines,  are  principally  produced. 

The  river  is  about  150  feet  wide,  the  bottom  generally  soft  and  miry,  the  banks 
steep.  The  water  is  from  3  to  4  feet  deep.  There  is  a  good  bridge  at  Buckland's,  (the 
first  one  below  Dayton,)  a  passable  ford  at  low  water  at  Gates's,  and  another  said  to  be 
at  Davis's  ranch,  between  Buckland's  and  Gates's.  Except  these  ranches  in  the  river- 
bottom,  the  Carson  here  flows  through  a  very  desert.  A  little  above  Ragtown  we 
l^assed  several  deserted  houses,  in  ruins,  deserted  since  the  overland  stage-route  was 
abandoned.  At  Ragtown  the  river  is  ({uite  as  muddy  as  above,  aiul  looks  very  treach- 
erous, with  the  shifting  sandy  bottom.  Captain  Simpson  says  of  the  water  of  Carson 
Lake,  in  June,  1859,  "  The  water  is  of  a  rather  whitisb,  milky  cast." 

Soda  in  quantity  is  obtained  from  a  couple  of  small  lakes  3  to  4  miles  east  of  Rag- 
town. The  water  is  simply  run  into  earth  vats,  allowed  to  evaporate,  and  sink  into 
the  soil,  when  the  soda  remains  sufiQciently  refined  for  transportation.  jMr.  Cowles 
visited  these  lakes  September  15.  I  returned  the  same  day  from  Wadsworth,  bringing 
with  the  pack-train  a  lot  of  barley  for  our  future  use. 

On  the  16th  we  left  this  place.  Mr.  Cowles  having  directions  to  proceed  with  the 
pack-train  by  way  of  the  Ellsworth  freight-road,  and  await  my  arrival  at  West  Gate, 
Mr.  Spiller  and  myself  took  the  old  overland  road,  along  which  follows  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  line.  We  camped  at  Stillwater,  on  the  slough  that  connects  Carson 
Lake  with  the  Hnmboldt'aud  Carson  Sink. 

Stillwater  has  a  telegraph  office  and  about  half  a  dozen  houses.  It  is  the  county-seat 
of  Churchill  County,  Nevada,  but  at  present  being  remote  from  travel,  is  very  isolated 
and  dull.  There  is  good  land  in  the  vicinity,  and  artesian  wells  could  undoubtedly 
be  used  to  advantage.  The  distribution  and  flow  of  the  water  of  Carson  River  are  very 
remarkable.  Three  and  a  half  miles  below  Ragtown  the  river  separates  into  two 
nearly  equal  streams ;  the  left  branch,  about  2  miles  further  on,  again  divides,  this  mak- 
ing three  streams.  The  central  one  is  called  New  River.  The  country  here  is  a  great 
flat  about  4,000  feet  above  sea-level ;  on  the  south  side  is  the  Carson  Lake,  shallow,  but 
with  generally  well-defined  shores.  It  is  about  9  miles  in  length  by  6^  in  width.  On 
the  north  side  where  the  river  enters  there  is  swampy  ground.  This  lake  is  connected 
with  the  Carson  and  Humboldt  Sink  by  the  slough  before  mentioned,  which  runs 
nearly  north  and  south,  and  is  about  22  miles  in  length. 

The  first  branch  of  the  Carson  flows  into  Carson  Lake,  New  River  enters  the  slough, 
and  the  third  branch  turns  to  the  north  into  the  siiik.  The  sink  is  of  much  greater 
extent  than  the  lake.  The  alternate  tongues  of  water  and  land,  the  little  islands  and 
pools  which  form  its  southern  shore,  show  from  a  distance  the  marshy  character  of  the 
land,  and  indicate  a  shallow  body  of  water,  and  a  surface  that  would  be  sensibly  af- 
fected by  changes  in  the  water-level.  The  Humboldt  River  enters  this  sink  fi'om  the 
north.  I  was  told  by  persons  living  along  the  slough  that  at  times  the  flow  of  water 
in  it  would  be  toward  Carson  Lake  and  the  reverse,  depending  upon  the  relative  height 
of  the  water  in  the  two  lakes.  At  the  time  of  our  visit  there  seemed  to  be  a  scarcely 
perceptible  set  toward  the  sink.  Captain  Simpson,  when  camped  upon  this  slough, 
in  June,  1859,  says:  "Carson  Lake  voids  itself  raijidly  through  it  to  its  sink  to  the 
north." 

The  freight-road  followed  by  Mr.  Cowles  crosses  the  Humboldt  branch  of  the  Car- 
son at  Saint  Clair's  Bridge,  and  follows  on  the  east  of  and  near  the  Carson  branch. 

The  slough  is  also  crossed  by  a  bridge  at  Hill  and  Grimes,  2i  miles  from  Carson 
Lake. 

The  travel  along  this  road  to  Belleville,  &c.,  has  made  a  market  for  farm-products. 
There  is  a  number  of  ranches  and  one  school-house.  We  also  find  ranches  on  the 
Humboldt  branch.  The  Stillwater  road  crosses  this  by  a  bridge  about  three  miles 
from  Saint  Clair's. 

The  land  in  this  flat,  away  from  the  water,  is  very  sandy  and  almost  desert. 

Bfith  our  parties  left  this  valley  on  the  east,  and  crossed  the  Sand  Spring  Range  into 
Fairview  Valley,  near  the  east  side  of  which  our  routes  came  together  at  West  Gate. 
Mr.  Cowles  crossed  the  range  at  the  Saud  Spring  Pass,  halting  there  one  day  to  occupy 
a  mountain  station.  At  Sand  Spring  water  costs  25  cents  per  head  for  the  animals  per 
night,  and  wood  could  scarcely  be  purchased. 

From  Stillwater,  by  the  old  road,  I  entered  the  foot-hills  about  18  miles  to  the  north 
of  Sand  Spring.  We  left  the  road  at  the  summit,  and  spent  several  days  in  the  mount- 
ains aVtout  La  Plata  and  Tarogqua  Peak  to  the  north.  The  range  here  is  called  the 
Silver  Hill  Range. 

Tarogqua  Peak  rises  very  abruptly  from  the  plain  just  east  of  the  southern  end  of 


APPENDIX    NN.  1265 

tLe  sink.  Tho  summit  is  4,800  feet  above  the  lake,  and  from  it  a  fine  view  was  ob- 
tained. About  this  peak  tliere  are  unmerons8i)rinifs,  and  there  is  sumo  woodhiud  along 
the  eastern  slope  of  the  range,  bnt  toward  Sand  Spring  the  range  is  cai)ped  with  vol- 
canic rack,  and  entirely  destitute  of  wood  and  water,  (Sand  Spring  being  at  the  edge 
of  a  low  flat.) 

By  the  road  thesnmmit  is  about  18  miles  from  Stillwater,  and  Moan'aiu  Well,  within 
a  half  mile  of  the  summit,  is  tho  only  water  between  Stillwater  and  West  Gate;  the 
water  is  now  scarcely  tit  for  use,  the  well  having  been  standing  open  for  several  years. 
An  old  wagon-road  leads  from  the  summit  to  La  Plata,  about  15  miles  to  the  north. 
Not  many  years  ago  this  place,  like  Como,  gave  promise  of  being  a  flourishing  mining- 
town.  There  still  remain  a  lino  stone  and  brick  foundation  and  chimney  of  a  large 
mill  which  was  stopped  in  the  building.  A  second  mill  U^as  erected  in  Black  Rock 
Canon,  near  by,  about  tho  same  time.  Now  the  place  has  reverted  to  a  pasture-ground 
for  sheep  and  cattle.  There  are  two  small  springs  of  water,  one  in  an  old  tunnel  near 
tho  mill,  and  another  half  a  mile  to  the  north. 

Crossing  Fairview  Valley  we  found  quantities  of  bunch-grass.  The  altitude  of  tho 
valley  is  but  4,000  feet,  and  it  is  a  good  winter  range  for  cattli;  in  summer  there  is  no 
water.  Tbe  drainage  is  toward  the  Humboldt  salt-deposit,  which  is  in  the  northern 
part  of  this  valley.  To  the  south  and  in  the  nj^per  portion  of  the  valley  there  is  a  large 
barren  Hat.  At  West  Gate  the-e  is  a  single  house  where  travelers  can  be  accommo- 
dated. Good  water  is  obtained  from  a  well.  The  telegraph  office,  until  recently  estab- 
lished here,  has  been  discontinued. 

We  ren)ained  at  this  camp  about  a  week,  during  which  time,  trips  were  made  into  the 
adjacent. country.  One  was  by  the  Ellsworth  freight-road  as  far  as  Tyler's  Station,  or 
Chalk  Well,  so  called  from  tUe  chalky  appearance  of  the  water,  which  does  not  rise 
more  than  a  few  feet  in  the  well.  To  retU'  n  to  We.st  Gate  we  followed  a  road  which 
connects  these  places,  but  makes  a  detour  through  East  and  Middle  Gates. 

A  station  was  occupied  near  Chalk  Well,  on  the  west  side  of  which  is  a  small  spring. 
At  East  Gate  there  is  running  water  and  a  small  vegetable-farm,  the  nearest  market  to 
which  is  Ellsworth,  28  miles  distant.  An  old  road  crosses  the  Desatoya  Range  here 
from  Putnam  Creek.  It  was  made  by  Captain  Simp.son,  in  18.^9,  in  his  outward  route. 
(East  Gate  was  called  by  him  the  Gate  of  Gibraltar,  and  the  Desatoya  Range  the  Se- 
daye  or  Lookout  Mountains.)  Following  the  water-course  toward  West  Gate,  water 
rises  to  the  surface  at  White  Rock.  Here,  at  the  junction  of  Captain  Simpson's  two 
roads,  a  station  was  built.  The  fork  to  the  north,  which  he  followed  on  bis  return 
route,  crosses  the  Desatoya  Range  by  Edwards  Creek  Pass,  and  this  one  was  afterwards 
used  for  travel.  From  White  Rock  our  route  was  through  Middle  Gate,  where  water 
again  was  found  at  the  surface,  and  thence  to  West  Gnte. 

Very  little  Avood  is  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity,  the  nearest  to  the  station  being 
about  11  miles  distant  on  the  east  slope  of  the  Fairview  Range.  This  range  is  remark- 
able for  the  scarcity  of  water  about  it;  although  the  peaks  rise  in  even  slopes  more 
than  4,0  )0  feet  above  the  Fairview  Valley,  and  some  wood  and  grass  abound,  yet  no 
running  water  was  found.  A  dry  camp  had  to  be  made  for  the  ascent  of  the  highest 
peak.  The  formation  at  its  summit  is  a  flaky  shale.  One  large  spring  is  reported  on 
the  east. slope  of  the  range  and  to  the  south  of  this  peak. 

A  number  of  cattle  range  the  country  and  seem  to  subsist  well,  though  the  pasture 
is  undoubtedly  scant.  It  is  believed  the  animals  accustom  themselves  to  remain  a 
long  time  without  water.  In  known  cases  they  come  to  water  at  intervals  of  from 
thirty-six  to  forty-eight  hours,  and  as  soon  as  their  thirst  is  satisfied  start  otf  to  the 
hills  again. 

From  West  Gate  the  road  by  Cold  Springs,  &c.,  was  followed  to  Patterson  Ranch,  on 
Edwards  Creek,  while  a  small  party  made  a  detour  to  the  north,  towards  Grant  Peak. 
We  ascended  along  Bench  Creek,  a  small  but  constant  stream  running  to  the  foot-hills. 
Wood  was  plenty  along  it.  Good  pasture-land  was  found  about  the  summit,  there 
being  a  plateau  of  gra-s-land  to  the  south  of  the  peak.  We  camped  one  night  near  the 
summit  to  take  ob.servations  for  azimuth  from  the  peak.  Thence  we  followed  a  trail 
that  descends  very  abruptly  to  Cherry  Valley,  in  the  range,  3  miles  to  the  north  of  the 
peak.  In  this  valley  and  its  surroundings  several  hundred  head  of  horses  .range,  in  a 
half-wild  state.  At  Clan  Alpine,  which  is  near  the  mouth  of  the  canon  drain  from 
Cherry  Valley  into  Edwards  Creek  Valley,  there  is  a  small  agricultural  settlement.  A 
njill  erected  by  a  mining  company  which  commenced  operations  here  some  years  since  is 
now  used  as  a  barn.  We  cros.sed  the  valley  to  Patterson's,  directly  opposite.  A  s,  cond 
observation  for  azimuth  in  connection  with  Grant's  Peak  was  made  at  Patterson's,  the 
teutin  camp  having  been  previously  sighted  from  the  peak.  From  Pattersou  two  roads 
lead  to  Austin  ;  the  one  to  the  north,  with  the  tehgraph  line,  goes  by  New  Pas",  Mount 
Airy,  and  Jacobsville,  and  was  the  road  last  used  by  the  stage  company;  the  other  is  by 
way  of  Edwards  Creek,  Smith  Creek,  and  Emigrant  Pass,  and  thence  several  roads 
cross  Reese  River  Valley  to  Austin. 

The  Desatoya  Range  being  next  in  order,  we  proceeded  to  work  up  its  topography 
from  New  Pass  south  to  the  drainage  of  Putnam  Creek.     In  the  mountains  there  is 

80  E 


1266        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

plenty  of  water.  It  is  found  in  nearly  all  the  caiions  on  the  west  side,  between  Gib- 
raltar Creek  at  East  Gate  and  Edwards  Creek.  Cedar  Creek,  next  south  of  Edward's 
Creek,  was  meandered  in  ascending  the  highest  peak  from  Patterson's.  Edward's 
Creek,  and  the  road  aioug  it,  and  through  the  pass  to  Smith's  Creek,  were  meandered  by 
Mr.  Cowles.  Ou  the  east  side  of  the  range  the  two  important  drains  are  Smith's  Creek 
and  Putuam  Creek  llowiiig  into  Sinitli's  Creek  Valley,  but  both  sink  soon  after  leaving 
the  foot-hills.  Ou  Smith's  Creek  a  quantity  of  laud  is  under  cultivatitm.  We  were 
eucamped  upon  it  for  several  days,  at  A.  Maestretti's  Ranch,  who  has  title  to  the  water- 
right  of  the  stream.  The  laud  has  not  yet  been  sectiouized  by  the  land-burvey.  Set- 
tlers already  located  have,  however,  the  first  right  to  purchase  when  the  land  is  opened 
for  sale.  The  country  drained  by  these  two  streams  affords  a  range  for  caitle  that  in 
the  summer  season,  I  think,  can  scarcely  be  surpassed  in  the  State,  and  generally  the 
winters  are  not  too  severe  to  pass  in  Smith's  Creek  Valley.  This  valley  is  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  6,000  feet  above  the  sea-level.  Two  years  since  there  was  so  much  suow  that 
it  was  necessary  to  feed  hay  to  the  cattle.  This  with  a  very  large  herd  is  impracticahle, 
and  in  that  winter  a  number  of  valuable  cattle  perished.  Fairview  Valley,  to  the  west, 
is  2,000  feet  lower,  and  there  cattle  can  range  throughout  the  winter.  Putnam  Creek 
was  meandered,  and  the  return  trip  made  by  the  flat  in  Smith's  Creek  Valley.  Ou  the 
western  side  of  this  flat  is  a  number  of  hot  springs.  There  are  about  twelve  of  these. 
The  openings  are  ciicular,  and  descend  in  a  conical  shape — some  of  them  apparently 
6  feet  deep.  I  had  not  with  me  a  thermometer  reading  more  than  124°,  and  could  not 
tell  the  temperature,  which  was  far  above  the  indication  of  my  thermometer.  The 
water  was  quite  clear;  the  flow  very  small.  Bubbles  rose  at  intervals  to  the  surface. 
A  piece  of  buckskin  held  iu  the  water  was  almost  at  once  acted  uuon,  and  when  taken 
out  was  twisted  and  stiff  and  appeared  like  raw-hide.  The  circumferences  varied  from  a 
few  inches — mere  openings— to  one  3  feet  across,  which  was  the  largest.  There  is  little 
or  no  deposit,  but  some  green  and  black  to  red  fungus.  The  springs  were  in  one  line, 
extending  north  and  south  about  100  yards,  on  a  slight  rid^e,  and  on  the  slopes  of 
which  a  little  grass  was  growing.  There  were  a  number  of  cold  spriugs,  too,  inter- 
mingled with  the  hot,  but  none  of  them  had  any  flow,  the  water  remaining  at  one  level, 
and  the  springs  trampled  by  cattle,  so  that  there  appeared  no  opening  in  the  bottom 
of  them,  as  in  the  case  of  the  hot  sittings. 

Two  springs,  the  water  of  which  is  quite  warm,  are  found  about  6  miles  to  the  north 
of  them  in  this  valley  ;  the  cattle  drink  freely  of  their  water.  The  barren  flat  in  this 
valley  covers  nearly  20,000  acres  of  land.  White  sage  grows  ou  the  slopes  to  the  hills  ; 
of  this  the  cattle  are  very  foud.  At  this  season  of  the  year  (October)  there  is  no  water 
in  the  valley.  Simpsou,'in  the  spring  of  1859,  speaks  of  alake  beingthere,  and  alsj  of 
a  considerable  stream  (Euglemau  Creek)  flowing  between  Smith's  and  Putuam  Creeks. 
This  creek  was  not  to  be  seen. 

From  Smith's  Creek  Mr.  Spiller  proceeded  along  the  foot-hills  to  the  north,  to  make  a 
station  in  the  range  south  of  New  Pass;  afterward  to  join  the  nortliern  road  aud  follow 
it  to  Mount  Airy,  aud  thence  to  an  appointed  rendezvous  at  Birchim's  ranch,  on  Reese 
River.     The  rest  of  the  party  followed  the  southern  road,  which  led  to  the  same  point. 

This  camp  was  10.7  miles  southwest  of  Austin.  We  remained  there  several  days 
duplicating  and  arranging  the  notes  of  the  party.  Austin  was  visited,  and  Mount 
Promethens,  near  there,  occupied.  We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Melville  Curtis,  engineer  of 
the  Manhattan  Mining  Company,  for  the  bearings  and  distance  to  connect  this  point 
with  an  astronomical  monument  previously  established  at  Austin  by  this  survey.  The 
Reese  River  Valley  presented  a  good  base  of  operations  for  completing  the  su  rvey  of 
the  eastern  portion  of  our  area,  the  same  purpose  that  the  Carson  River  and  old  over- 
land road  with  its  water-stations  had  served  in  our  route  eastward. 

The  valley  of  the  river  here  lies  between  the  Toyabe  Range  on  the  east  and  the 
Shoshone  ou  the  west.  The  Toyabes  rise  above  11,700  feet  aud  the  Shoshone  about 
J0,000  feet.  The  two  ranges  converge  at  the  head  of  the  valley  and  range  south  into 
the  desert,  while  the  Toyabes  to  the  north  of  latitude  39'=  30',  and  the  Shoshone  north 
of  39°  15'  decrease  in  altitude  and  have  little  water.  The  river  rises  iu  the  Toyabes, 
about  latitude  38^  45',  aud  flows  to  the  north.  A  second  source  is  from  copious  springs, 
in  the  valley  a  few  miles  south  of  Birchim's,  forming  a  branch  that  soon  unites  with 
the  other.  The  river-bed  crosses  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  at  Battle  Mountain 
Station,  near  which  place  it  joins  the  Humboldt  River;  water  nearly  flows  to  its 
mouth.  The  ranges  are  well  wooded,  and  some  of  the  trees  are  fit  for  timber,  but  the 
growth  is  generally  stunted.  None  of  the  cauon-streams  of  the  Shoshone  reach  the 
river.  The  soil  of  the  valley  is  much  impregnated  with  alkali ;  toward  the  upper  part 
of  the  valley  is  a  number  of'grain-rauches ;  barley  is  priucii^ally  raised,  the  past  season 
being  an  exceptionally  prosperous  one.  The  lower  ranches  ou  the  river  are  adapted 
to  making  hay. 

Mr.  Spiller  was  assigned  to  work  up  the  topography  of  the  Toyabe  Range.  He  en- 
tered the  range  by  way  of  Big  Creek,  occupied  Geneva  Peak,  aud  then  worked  south- 
ward to  latitude  39°.  Once  crossing  into  Big  Smoky  Valley  by  Kingston  Canon,  and 
then  recrqssing  the  range  to  Washington,  he  finally  rejoined  the  party  at  McMahon'a 


APPENDIX   NN.  1267 

Ranch.  From  this  place  he  made  a  trip  to  Poston  Peak,  at  the  headwaters  of  Reese 
River.  In  this  ranj^e,  from  Prometheus  to  Poston,  a  distance  of  48  miles,  six  proni- 
iueut  peaks  were  occupied.  Severe  weather  was  encountered  by  that  party,  with 
snow-storms  and  cold.  Especially  on  Poston  Peak  the  party  suffered  severely  ;  there 
Mr.  8pilier  had  both  ears  badly  frozen.     This  w^rk  occupied  twenty  days. 

In  the  mean  tiniH  the  party  moved  up  R(^ese  River  Valley.  The  road  from  Austin  to 
lone  was  meandered  tliroui^hout.  Fr<»m  Elkhorn  the  pack-train  went  to  Washington, 
in  the  Toyabe  foot-hills,  to  resnpply  Mr.  Spillcr's  party.  Willi  Mr.  Covvlcs,  I  made  a 
trip  of  six  days  into  the  Shoshone  Mountains.  We  recro-sed  the  valley  to  Washington, 
and  then  proceeded  to  McMahon's,  to  rendezvous  with  the  other  i>arly.  In  the  Sho- 
shone Range,  from  Mount  Airy  south  to  loue  Pass,  a  distance  of  40  miles,  seven  prom- 
inent points  on  the  main  divide  were  occupied. 

The  party  was  now  ready  to  move  westward,  through  the  southern  portion  of  our 
area,  with  the  object  in  view  to  complete  the  survey  ot  the  area  in  a  north  and  south 
direction  as  wo  moved.  At  our  cain|>  at  McMahon's  we  separated  as  usual,  the  next 
rendezvous  being  appointed  at  Ellsworth.  Mr.  Spiller,  Private  Niver,  and  myself 
formed  one  party.  Our  route  led  us  a  second  time  to  lone.  This  is  a  mining-towu  ou 
the  western  slope  of  the  Shoshone  Mountains,  a  little  ^outh  of  latitude  .TJ^  :iO'. 

The  mines  have  betru  opened  for  some  y- ars,  and  promised  well  when  first  opened. 
For  several  years  back  little  work  has  been  done  in  them.  New  capital  at  this  time 
was  awakening  the  place  to  a  good  deal  of  activity.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the 
town  of  Ellsworth,  across  the  valley  to  the  west;  here,  however,  new  discoveries  were 
also  being  made.  From  lone  we  crossed  the  lone  Valley  in  a  southwesterly  direction, 
to  Antelope  Springs,  in  the  Mammoth  Mouutyins.  This  valley  is  but  au  extension 
south  of  the  Suiith's  Creek  Valley,  the  divide  betweeu  them  being  very  low.  The 
Mammoth  Range,  here  so  called,  is  but  an  extension  of  the  Desatoya  Range.  Paradise 
and  P.ak  Peaks,  south  of  Ellsworth,  were  occupied.  The  range  is  not  high,  but  there 
is  an  abundance  of  wood  and  a  number  of  springs.  lone  Valley,  east  of  it,  is  without 
water ;  but  it  drains  well  to  the  south,  and  gives  some  pasturage  instead  of  barren  fl:its. 
To  the  west  the  range  falls  abruptly  to  barren  foot-hills  aud  the  Hot  Springs  Valley 
with  its  f<lkaliue  tia"".  The  difference  of  level  between  lone  Valley  and  Hot  Springs 
Valley  is  about  2,000  feet,  the  same  as  observed  to  the  north  between  Smith's  Creek 
Valley  and  Fairview  Valley.  The  same  range  forms  the  dividing  line,  but  on  the  west 
the  two  valleys  do  not  run  into  each  other,  as  do  Smith's  Creek  aud  lone,  but  a  con- 
siderable range  of  hills  running  east  and  west  separate  Hot  Springs  aud  FairvieTV 
Valleys. 

This  Mammoth  Range  is  a  very  distinct  line  of  demarkation  between  the  country 
to  its  west  a-  d  that  to  the  east  betweeu  latitude  38°  40'  aud  39°  30'.  The  type  of 
country  westward  extends  as  far  as  Mason  Valley,  and  to  the  Como  Range.  The  Carson 
River,  in  its  lower  part,  struggles  through  it.  Apparently  finding  itsilf  battled  in  its 
westerly  course,  the  desert  turns  off  to  the  north,  to  absorb  the  wa'ers  of  the  Hum- 
boldt and  Truckee  Rivers.  The  type  is  a  country  whose  valleys  are  alkaline  liats,  and 
whose  mountains  are  low,  igneous  hills,  without  wood  and  with  very  little  water. 

From  McMahon's  the  remainder  of  tiie  party  had  returned  along  the  Re^se  River 
Valley  and  crossed  the  Shoshone  R>^nge  to  Petersen's  Ranch,  in  Smith's  Creek  Valley, 
aud  thence  proceeded  south  through  lone  Valley  to  Ellsworth.  Ellsworth  is  several 
miles  from  the  summit  of  the  range,  and  on  the  eastern  slope.  The  'first  mines  were 
worked  about  the  site  of  the  town.  Tie  impetus  now  at  work  is  derived  from  mines 
on  the  western  or  exposed  slojie  of  the  range.  A  new  town,  called  Summit  City,  is 
being  built  at  the  summit,  and  near  these  mines.  At  prt sent  water  must  be  hauled 
there,  but  it  can  be  brought  in  pipes  from  a  spring  at  no  great  distance. 

From  Ellsworth,  Chalk  Well  was  revisited,  to  complete  the  survey  of  the  freight- 
road  from  West  Gate.  Our  next  camp  after  Ellsworth  was  at  Welsh's  Spring,  near  the 
mouth  of  Marble  Falls  Canon,  aud  at  the  base  of  the  bluffs  on  the  west  side  of  the 
range.  It  is  but  5|  miles  from  Ellsworth.  About  3|  miles  across  the  small  valley,  west 
of  tins  spring,  is  the  Illinois  mine,  the  principal  one  of  the  new  mining  district  of 
Lodi. 

At  Ellsworth,  I  engaged  an  Indian  guide  to  take  a  small  party  through  the  very 
dry  country  lying  between  West  Gate  aud  Hot  Springs  Valley.  Mr.  Spiller,  the  guide, 
one  packer,  and  myself  composed  the  party.  The  rest  of  the  party  moved  southwest- 
erly to  Hot  Springs  Vallej',  aud  camped  there  at  some  cold-water  springs,  wh.  re  they 
also  fjund  some  grass  for  the  animals^  but  were  badly  off  for  wood.  Our  small  i^arty 
was  our  four  days. 

The  first  day,  after  having  occupied  the  highest  point  in  the  hills  just  west  of  the 
Illinois  mine,  we  marched  northwest  about  9  miles,  and  camped  high  up  on  the  rocky 
slopes  of  a  low  peak  that  was  occupied  as  a  station  the  following  day.  At  this  camp 
the  water  was  in  a  hole,  under  aud  inclosed  iu  the  solid  rock,  and  besides  being  scarce 
was  ve;y  difficult  to  obtain.  The  guide  gave  us  to  understand,  however,  that  in  the 
spring  we  would  liud  there  plenty  ot  water.  The  wood  there  was  very  scant  sage-brush. 
Our  .second  camp  was  at  a  spring  7  miles  west  of  this;  this  spring  is  hidden  in  a  Hat 


1268        KEPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

body  of  rock;  the  water  was  plenty  forns,  though  not  abundant.  It  did  not  flow,  bnt 
stood  in  tliesand  of  one  of  the  rocky  ravines.  Here  we  were  a  few  miles  east  of  tlie  F  lir- 
view  Mountains.  Onr  next  camp  was  at  an  old  arrastra  on  the  west  slope  of  a  peak  we 
called  Slate  Peak.  This  peak  is  in  the  southern  extension  of  the  Fairview  Range,  and 
there  Avas  noticeable  another  drain  cutting  through  this  range  t.)  the  north  of  Slate 
Peak,  with  sides  much  more  precijiitons,  however,  than  those  of  the  West  G  ite  wash 
that  cuts  it  to  the  north.  Noticing  also  that  Fairview  Range  is  a  ditterent  formation 
from  tluise  in  its  vicinity,  we  can  readily  conclude  that  it  is  much  ol  )er.  At  the  arrastra 
leferred  to  was  worked  the  first  ore  from  a  mine  supposed  to  be  rich  iu  gold  ;  the  loca- 
tion is  at  the  head  of  Fairview  Valley.  A  small  mill  (.'j-stamp)  was  afterward  erected 
in  Hot  Springs  Valley,  where  water  was  obtained  by  sinking  a  well.  Want  of  capital 
is  assigned  as  the  cause  for  quitting  the  work. 

The  mill  is  still  standing  and  nearly  complete.  At  the  arrastra  we  managed  to  obtain 
a  little  muddy  wattr  by  cleaning  out  the  bottom  of  ati  excavation  previously  m  ule 
for  that  j)urpose;  there  were  indications  of  a  spring  during  part  of  the  year.  From 
this  ])lace  we  crossed  the  divide  at  the  head  of  Fairview  Valley  to  Hot  Springs  Valley, 
following  a  road  but  seldom  nsed  since  the  mine  ceased  to  be  worked.  The  roa  1  led 
to  the  mill.  The  whole  party  then  crossed  the  valley  to  Dead  Horse  Well,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  val  ey. 

There  is  a  copious  flow  of  water  from  the  Hot  Springs,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
valley ;  the  water  is  too  hot  to  bear  the  hand  in  it.  Tbe  deposit  is  like  that  of  the 
springs  in  Smith's  Creek  Valley. 

The  alkali  flat  in  this  valley  contains  about  14,000  acres.  It  is  rich  in  borax,  and 
has  been  worked  to  some  extent.  At  Dead  Horse  Well  observations  for  azimuth  were 
taken,  in  connection  with  Basalt  Peak  near  by,,  which  was  occupied  as  a  primarj^  trian- 
gulation-station.  Belleville  is  south  of  Dead  Horse  Well,  about  50  miles  di-.tant.  There 
are  several  wells  at  this  place  and  an  abundantsupply  of  tolerably  good  water.  Our  route 
thence  was  north,  along  the  Belleville  and  Wadsworth  freight-road,  to  Sulphur  Spring,  , 
in  the  Sand  Spring  flat,  31.7  miles.  The  road  is  along  the  west  slope  ot  the  S.iud  Spring 
Range,  and  there  is  no  water.  At  one  of  the  stations  (D.ep  Hollow)  water  is  scdd  for 
$1.50  per  barrel ;  it  is  hauled  a  distance  of  14  miles,  from  Dead  Horse  Well.  Salt  Well  is  a 
station  three  miles  short  of  Sulphur  Spring,  but  the  water  of  the  well  is  not  lit  fur  drink- 
ing purposes. 

The  Sand  Spring  flat  covers  an  area  of  20,000  acres ;  it  opens  on  the  northwest  to  the 
Carson  Slough;  the  divide  is  scarcely  perceptible.  The  soil  is  wet,  and  water  stands  in 
the  lowest  part. 

The  water  at  Sulphur  Spring  is  not  very  good.  Drinking-water  is  brought  from  the 
slough,  10  miles  distant.  There  is  a  stat  on  at  the  spring.  The  wood  used  is  brought 
about  50  miles,  by  the  return  freight-teams  from  Bellevilie. 

In  the  Sand  Spring  Range,  nine  pDiuts  were  occupied,  from  Tarogqua south  to  Basalb, 
44  miles.  We  next  moved  by  the  southeast  of  Carson  Lake  to  Allen's  Springs.  These 
are  the  calcareous  springs  spoken  of  by  Simpson  iu  1859.  At  the  southwest  of  Carson 
Lake  therd  is  a  large  area  of  porous  alkaline  ground,  that  is  hut  little  raised  above  the 
surface  of  the  lake,  and  comparatively  recent  beach-marks  indicate  the  more  modern 
overflows  of  the  water. 

Our  next  rendezvous  was  appointed  in  Mason  Valley.  Mr.  Spiller,  with  the  train, 
proceeded  south  to  Walker  River,  crossed  it  at  the  old  Indian  agency,  and  th.-nce 
moved  along  the  road  to  Lee's  Mill.  With  Mr.  Cowles  and  one  packer  I  returned  to 
Carson  Lake  and  camped  on  its  southwest  shore,  near  the  ruins  of  an  old  station.  The 
tnles  said  to  be  here  formerly  are  entirely-  g>ne.  We  had  to  carry  an  old  telegraph- 
pole  about  lialf  a  mile  to  camp  to  make  our  tire  ;  there  was  no  drift-wood.  The  tele- 
graph line  formerly  here  now  passes  through  R  igtown,  &.c.  The  mules  would  not 
driuk  the  water  of  the  lake,  even  after  they  had  been  without  water  for  more  than  24 
hours.  The  lake  was  swarming  with  water-fowl.  From  here  we  followed  the  old  road 
west,  past  Houton  Well,  (now  deserted,)  to  Buckland's,  where  had  been  our  second 
camp  out  from  Carson ;  thence  we  proceeied,  by  the  good  wagoa-road,  to  M  ison  Val- 
ley. The  Hot  Springs  iu  the  northern  part  of  this  valley  have  been  long  known.  I 
here  observe  that  there  is  an  east  and  west  water-shed  extending  across  onr  whole  area 
from  the  Toyabe  Range,  and  extending  to  the  Sierras.  Stirtiug  around  the  head  of 
Reese  River,  it  joins  the  Shoshone,  then  divides  Smith  Creek  and  lone  Valleys,  and  so 
contuuies  to  the  west,  about  the  latitude  39°  15'.  It  finally  forms  the  divide  between 
the  Carson  and  Walker 'Rivers.  It  is  most  marked  south  of  the  West  Gate  Wash,  the 
Farview  Valley,  and  Carson  Lakn  to  Buckland's. 

To  follow  from  the  mouth  of  Churchill  Canon  the  broad  open  drain,  one  will  be  sur- 
prised to  find  that  it  separates  from  the  canon  about  4i  miles  fron  the  Carson,  and 
continues  with  a  very  slight  rise  to  the  divide  between  the  Carson  and  Walker  Rivers, 
and  from  this  divide  to  the  valley  of  Walker  River.  The  drain  continues  the  same; 
indeed  the  summit  cannot  be  perceived  in  traveling.  Our  barometric  observations 
show  a  constant  risa  from  the  mouth  of  Churchill  Canon  sontli  thtough  this  drain  to 
Walker  River.     It  would  seem  to  indicate  that  there  had  been  a  connection  at  one 


APPENDIX   NN.  12G9 

time  between  the  waters  of  the  two  rivers.     It  certainly  presents  a  very  easy  pass  from 
one  river  to  the  other. 

From  Lee's  Mill  we  marche(^  in  two  days  to  Carson  City,  following  a  new  road  re- 
cently established  between  Dayton  and  Mason  Valley.  We  arrived  at  Carson  on  the 
evening  of  the  2Cth  November,  when  I  reported  to  Lientenant  Tillman.  Mr.  Spiller 
made  a  trip  from  Carsou  to  Mount  liosa  and  return  before  going  East. 

MINING  DISTRICTS. 

Four  mining  districts  in  operation  were  visited.  Austin,  next  to  Virginia  City,  is 
the  center  of  the  most  prosperous  mining  district  in  Nevada.  The  Manhattan  Silver 
Mining  Comp;iny,  owning  several  find  miaes  and  a  good  mill,  is  now  doing  the  princi- 
pal work,  and  is  in  active  operation.  A  full  report  of  this  district  has  been  made 
by  Clarence  King. 

UNION  MINING   DISTRICT. 

This  district  has  been  established  about  thirteen  years.  The  first  discoveries  were 
made  by  A.  J.  McGee.  It  was  at  first  worked  actively  about  eighteen  months,  and  iu 
May,  l."^76,  active  operations  again  commenced.  The  present  recorder  is  James  F. 
Diiekett.  The  i)ost  oHice  is  lone  City,  Nye  County,  Nevada  ;  George  W.  Veatch,  post- 
mast(;r.  A  buekboard  runs  weekly  fr(mi  Austin,  Nov. ;  the  distance  is  51i  miles.  The 
nearest  railroad  communication  is  Wadsworth,  on  the  Central  Pacitic  Kiilroad,  r<iO 
miles  distant.  The"  district  extends  12  miles  north  and  south,  and  6  miles  east  and 
west,  with  the  foot-hills  of  the  range.  The  north  line  is  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
north  of  lone.  The  mineral  belt  is  from  one-half  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide,  and, 
running  with  the  longer  line  of  the  district,  crops  out  at  intervals  through  the  12 
miles.  Croiniings  show  both  in  canons  and  upon  spurs  on  the  west  slope  of  the 
range,  and  about  one-third  of  the  distance  from  the  summit  to  the  fooc-hills.  The 
range  trends  north  and  south  ;  the  lodes  have  the  same  direction,  and  dip  to  the  north- 
east, uniforndy  with  the  country-rock.  The  walls  ar^i  covered  iu  placei  with  a  thin 
seam  nf  white  clay,  and  these  give  the  richest  deposits.  Vegetable  impressions  have 
been  found,  but  no  fossils.  Chloride  is  the  principal  ore  found  ;  it  has  been  worked  by 
crashing  dry  and  roasting.  The  water-level  has  not  been  reached  in  the  mine.  The 
ore  contains  a  good  deal  of  iron,  and  some  lead  and  antimony.  Gold  is  found  iu  all 
the  ore,  generally  in  paying  quantities.  The  principal  mines  now  worked  are  the 
Storm  King  and  the  Clipper.  The  first  is  being  worked  by  the  Ural  Silver  Mining  Com- 
pany ;  an  incline  has  been  run  350  feet,  with  two  levels  several  hundred  feet  in  length  ; 
the  amount  of  good  ore  in  sight  is  not  great.  In  connection  with  this  mine  a  shaft; 
is  being  sunk,  several  hundred  yards  froui  the  ledge,  to  strike  the  incline  at  a  depth 
of  about  yOO  feet,  if  the  incline  continues  with  its  present  pitch.  This  ciiin])any  is 
also  putting  up,  a  few  miles  south  of  lone,  a  hue  mill  with  capacity  for  20  stamps. 
A  revolving  furnace  (White)  will  be  u-ied,  and  improved  machinery  throughout.  Ab 
the  present  writing,  it  should  be  completed.  In  the  Clipper  mine  several  inclines  have 
been  run,  a  small  force  was  at  work,  and  gold  has  been  taken  from  it;  the  work 
was  uot  on  the  vein  at  the  time.  Some  lifteeu  other  mines  are  considered  in  favor- 
able condition  for  working;  on  all  of  them  a  considerable  amount  of  labor  has  been 
expended. 

The  Pioneer  Mill,  owned  by  James  M.  Canimack,  is  in  the  town  of  lone  ;  it  has  been 
idle  for  some  time.  It  has  a  line  engine,  and  the  reverberatory  furnaces  used  for  roast- 
ing the  crushed  ore  are  in  good  condition.  The  stamps  are  out  of  order.  When  tirsfc 
opened  the  mines  were  found  to  contain  pockets  of  rich  chloride,  and  paid  well. 

Two  veins  run  with  the  mineral  belt,  and  the  excavatious  made  show  them  to  be 
extended.  The  value  of  the  ore  extracted  is  claimed  to  have  far  exceeded  the  amount 
expended  on  the  mines.  The  ore  will  generally  bo  easily  extracted  by  inclines  and 
levels  run  on  the  veins.  Wood  is  abundant,  and  there  is  a  running  stream  at  lone. 
The  coat  of  freight  from  the  railroad  is  2J  cents  per  pound. 

MAMMOTH   MINING  DISTRICT. 

The  first  discoverers  were  R.  B.  Craig  and  James  Donelly.  It  was  organized  Do' 
cember  23,  1^(33,  and  h^s  been  worked  with  more  or  le.-is  vigor  since  that  time.  Patrick 
Downey  is  recorder.  The  post  office  is  Ellsworth,  Nye  County,  Nevada.  ;  P.  O.  Tyler, 
postnuister.  The  rente  of  The  buekboard  from  Austin,  through  lone,  terminates  here. 
The  f. eigh'-route  is  from  Wadsworrh,  on  the  Central  Pajirtc  Railroad,  about  110  miles 
distant ;  freight  from  Wadsworth  is  2^  cents  per  pound;  returning,  the  price  is  IJ  cents 
por  pound. 

Willow  Spring,  a  short  half  mile  west  of  the  town,  is  the  center  of  the  district ;  from 
this  point  to  the  center  of  the  bounding  lines  north,  south,  east,  and  west,  is  .5  miles. 
The  area  of  the  mineral  croppings  is  al)out  one-half  mile  wide  by  3|  long,  the  longer 
line  crossing  the  Mammoth  Range  east  and  west,  and  the  miues  are  located  ou  both  side 


1270  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

of  it.  The  range  trends  north  and  south  ;  the  lodes  on  the  east  trend  north  and  sonth, 
and  those  on  the  west,  northeast  and  southwest.  The  eastern  slopes  are  gentle,  and 
there  the  discoveries  are  in  the  foot-slopes,  and  adjacent  to  the  town.  The  country- 
rock  is  granite.  None  of  the  mines  there  are  heing  worked.  The  Mount  Vernon  mine 
was  nio.-t  extensively  developed,  and  is  considered  valuahle.  It  is  now  flooded  with 
water,  which,  in  the  granite,  is  reached  at  100  feet. 

On  the  western  slope  the  strata  are  much  exposed,  the  descent  being  very  abrupt. 
The  discoveries  range  through  about  1,000  feet  in  altitude,  commencing  near  thesnrainit, 
aTid  extending  a  little  more  than  halfway  down  the  slope.  The  deposits  are  richest  in 
the  slate  and  limestone.  A  metamorpliic  rock  also  abounds.  The  Last  Chance,  Grant 
and  Colfax,  and  Canada  mines,  on  all  of  which  work  was  being  done,  are  in  the  same 
belt  of  rock.  It  is  about  600  feet  wide,  and  cuts  across  the  country-roek.  The  Lisbon 
mine,  also  on  this  slope,  has  been  worked  to  a  considerable  extent.  The  Last  Chance 
may  be  tnken  as  a  sample  of  the  tirst  three  ;  it  has  three  shafts  or  inclines,  respectively 
100  feet,  133  feet,  and  40  feet,  with  about  70  feet  of  levels,  run  on  the  vein.  The  hang- 
ing wall  is  a  seam  of  iudnrated  clay,  about  4  feet  thick,  the  foot-wall  slaty  limesione; 
barren  horses'  of  slaty  limestone  occur  at  intervals,  but  the  continuity  of  the  vein 
seems  well  established.  The  ore  is  principally  chloride,  with  a  little  iron,  and  traces 
of  copper.  Assays  show  its  value  to  range  from  $6H  to  $236  per  ton,  with  an  estab- 
lished average  of  over  $80  to  the  ton.  The  dip  is  southwest ;  the  inclination  to  60  feet 
is  7r,°  ;  below  that,  as  far  as  developed,  it  is  85°.  The  Grant  and  Colfax  has  a  shaft  of  60 
feet,  with  a  level  of  40  feet  on  the  ledge,  and  a  tunnel  has  been  rnn  100  feet,  that  will 
reach  the  ledge  liO  feet  farther  on.  The  Canada  has  a  tunnel  run  35  feet  on  the  ledge. 
These  three  niin<  s  have  been  actively  worked  since  their  discovery,  which  is  recent. 
The  ore  will  be  easily  extracted  ;  its  transportation  to  the  mill,  which  must  be  on  the 
frasteru  slope,  tobw  convenient  to  water,  will  be  a  matter  of  some  difficulty.  It  is  con- 
templated to  bnild  a  wagon-road  ;  it  can  be  graded  to  the  summit  in  about  1  mile. 
This  would  give  a  grade  of  about  4.'J0  feet  from  the  summit  to  Ellsworth  ;  where  the 
mill  is  to  bw  situated,  the  distance  would  be  about  4  miles,  with  an  easy  grade.  Mr. 
W.  H.  Raymond,  of  Oakland,  Cal.,  is  negotiating  for  the  Last  Chance  mine,  a-  d  it  is 
expected  to  shortly  erect  a  new  mill  at  Ellsworth.  The  one  already  there  is  a  lO-stamj) 
mill,  witb  Stedefelt  furr ace,  750-pound  stamps,  an  engine  of  40-horse  power,  and  with 

2  settlers  and  5  pans.  Wood  is  abundant  and  couveuient,  and  there  are  nnfailiug 
springs  just  above  the  town.  Gold  is  found  in  the  ore,  and  said  to  average  from  $10 
to  $15  to  the  ton.     The  indications  of  increased  prosperity  for  this  district  are  good. 

LODI  MINING  DISTRICT 

Was  discovered  by  F.  M.  Pearson,  A.  Welsh,  and  J.  H.  Williams,  and  was  organized  in 
September,  1875.  It  has  been  actively  worked  since  that  time.  The  recorder  is  Joel 
Holden.  Ellsworth  is  the  post  office.  From  Wadswor;h  the  distance  is  about  100 
miles;  the  road  to  within  10  miles  of  Lodi  being  identical  with  that  to  Ellsworth  and 
lone.  Tte  district  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Mammoth  district,  south  by  the  old 
Wellington  road,  west  by  the  Hot  Spring  Range,  and  north  by  the  Wadsworth  road. 
The  i)rincipal  ledge  is  situated  on  the  east  slope,  and  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  a 
somewhat  detached  group  of  hills,  but  which  have  here  a  ridge  extending  several 
niiles  east  and  west.  Lodi  Peak,  the  highest  point,  is  6,486  feet  above  sea-level,  and 
1-k  miles  west  of  the  ledge.  This  ledge  trends  a  little  we-t  of  north,  and  the  mineral 
croppings  show  an  area  about  1  mile  long  by  300  feet  broad.  The  walls  are  nearly 
perpendicular,  being  an  exceedingly  hard  black  rock,  apparently  a  fissure,  retaining 
well  its  width.  The  richest  dejiosit  is  found  wh.ere  the  ore  vein  contracts  to  a  c<niple 
of  feet,  the  remainder  of  the  fissure  being  here  filled  with  a  loose,  fiiable,  yellow- 
colored  rock.  The  ore  is  carbonate.  It  contains  about  7  per  cent,  of  antimony,  a 
good  deal  of  iron,  and  abont  25  per  cent,  of  lead-carbonate.  The  assays  give  about 
$15  to  the  ton  i?i  gold.  The  Illinois  mine  on  this  ledge  has  one  shaft  00  feet,  and 
another  00  feet,  deep,  on  the  ve  n.  In  the  latter  shaft  is  a  drift  20  feet  north,  at  a 
depth  of  60  feet.  Several  locations  lave  been  made  on  the  extension  of  this  mine. 
The  Lodi  mine,  northwest  of  this  ledge,  has  a  shaft  115  feet  deep,  with  a  cut  across  the 
ledge  at  GO  feet;  its  walls  are  perpendicular,  and  trend  east  and  west.  Fronj  the  Illi- 
nois mine  about  $20,000  worth  of  ore  has  been  shipped  to  San  Francisco;  a  quantity 
of  this  assaying  ^.'jOO  to  the  ton.  The  average  of  the  assorted  ore  is  $300  to  the  ton. 
This  mine  has  also  been  purchased  by  Mr.  Raymond.  No  mill  has  been  erected  as  yet. 
The  shafts  and  drifts  will  be  rnn  in  the  vein  matter.  There  is  no  water  near  the 
]iiines.  Two  springs,  Welsh  ■.nd  Wilkinson,  are  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  valley 
which  separates  the  Lodi  hills  from  the  Mammoth  Range ;  they  are,  respectiv-  ly,  abont 

3  and  3^  miles  from  the  Illinois  mine,  in  a  direct  1  ne.  The  highest  one  is  90  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  mine.  The  lowest  (Welsh)  is  abont  the  level  of  the  mine.  Timber 
could  be  obtained  from  the  Mammoth  Range.  On  this,  the  west  side,  however,  the 
timber  oulv  grows  near  the  summit.  Freight  from  Wadsworth  costs  2^  cents,  and 
returning  1^  cents. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1271 

There  is  a  l»r<Te  number  of  cattle  in  the  vicinity  of  these  three  raining  districts. 
For  loue  and  Ellsworth,  tlie  source  of  jjrain  and  hay  supply  is  Reese  River  Valley,  iiud 
this  is  also  tlie  nearest  point  to  Ellsworth.  Reese  River  Valley  is  distant  about  8  miles 
from  lone,  17  from  Ellsworth,  and  34  from  Lodi  ;  the  distance  to  Lodi  is  lartjely  in- 
creased by  a  necessary  detour  throuj^h  Burnt  Cabiu  Summit  to  cross  the  Mammoth 
Eaujje.  From  this  valley,  the  cost  of  f  irage  at  Lodi,  at  present  prices,  would  not  ex- 
ceed '^i  cents  per  pound  for  barley  and  2  cents  for  hay  ;  at  Ellsworth,  3^  cents  for 
barley  and  l^  cents  for  hay  ;  at  lone,  3  cents  for  barley  and  1^  cents  for  hay. 

It  is  contemphtted  to  build  a  narrow-gaiijje  railroad  from  Battle  Mountain,  on  the 
Central  Pacific  Railroad,  to  Austin,  Nev.  This  would  make  the  distance  fro'o  railroad 
communication  for  lone  51A^  miles,  and  for  Ellsworth,  via  Petersen's  Ranch  and  the 
Lower  Reese  River  Valley,  55  miles.  From  Lodi  to  Austin,  by  the  route  throujjli  the 
valley,  would  be  abont  (52  miles,  as  against  100  miles  to  Wadsworth.  The  advantage 
in  snpnlies  of  water,  forage,  and  the  character  of  the  road-bed  would  also  be  in  favor 
of  the  Austin  route. 

Lamler  City  was  built  on  Big  Creek,  about  the  mouth  of  its  canon  from  the  Toyabe 
Range;  a  great  deal  of  prospecting  was  done,  but  to  little  pur[iose,  aiul  the  place  was 
desertid  for  Austin  when  that  camp  became  prosperous.  A  few  ranches  are  now 
found  alcng  the  creek. 

Following  up  Big  Creek,  and  crossing  the  range  into  Kingston  Canon,  we  find  an- 
other old  mining  camp,  on  which  a  great  deal  of  money  has  been  expended.  The  Ster- 
ling Mil,  at  the  mouth  of  this  canon,  is  held  in  good  order ;  it  is  a  20-stamp  mill,  the 
motive  being  furnished  bj  a  turbine  water-wheel.  The  renutins  of  two  other  mills,  from 
■which  the  machinery  has  been  removed,  are  found  not  far  from  it. 

At  Washington  also  a  camp  was  started,  and  there  is  quite  a  little  village  of  houses, 
all  but  two  of  which  are  now  deserted. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  much  labor,  toil,  and  money  have  been  expended  in  this  conn- 
try  on  worthless  mines.  The  failures,  however,  are  often  due  to  other  causes;  x)romi- 
nent  among  which  are  undue  expectations,  lack  of  facilities  for  transportation  ;  and 
again  in  one  case  a  thriftless  expenditure  of  a  company's  money,  and  in  anot*>er  a 
lack  of  means.  These  camps  were  staited  at  a  time  when  mining  was  a  rage  in  Ne- 
vada ;  now  it  has  sobered  down  very  much.  The  success  of  Austin,  and  the  undoubted 
fact  that  a  large  quantity  of  mineral  does  exist  in  these  mountains,  must  lead  us  to 
hope  that,  with  proper  care  aud  management,  a  future  day  will  see  this  a  prosperous 
mining  region. 

WORK  DONE   BY  THE   PARTY. 

The  party  was  in  the  field  83  days,  and  including  Mr.  Spiller's  trip  to  Mount  Rosa, 
after  our  return  to  Carson,  the  following  will  indicate  the  work  done,  viz: 

Number  of  main  camps 29 

Number  of  side  can)i)s 47 

Number  of  miles  meandered  1,  073.  89 

Number  of  miles  traveled  and  not  meandered 633.  42 

Number  of  mountain  stations  occupied  with  a   10-iuch  or  20-inch  instru- 
ment   22 

Number  of  topographical   stations  occupied,  being  either  iocluded  in  the 

triangulation  or  three  point  stations,  with  30-inch  instrument 70 

Number  of  additional  three-point  stations 244 

Number  of  aneroid-barometer  stations 501 

Number  of  cistern  barometer  stations 104 

Number  of  variations  determined  by  observations  on  Polaris 27 

Number  of  azimuths  determined 3 

Number  of  latitudes  determined  by  sextant 30 

A  great  number  of  points  were  fixed  by  cross-bearings,  care  being  taken  in  this  re- 
spect with  regard  to  every  topographical  feature  of  importance  distinguishable  from 
two  or  more  stations.  For  this  purpose  twu  methods  were  introduced  by  Mr.  Spiller 
and  used.  In  the  first,  all  the  sights  to  points,  taken  at  an  occupied  station,  were 
numl)ered  consecutively  around  the  horizon  from  one  upward  ;  then,  on  sighting  any 
one  of  these  points  from  a  second  station,  a  convenient  note  was  made,  citing  the  number 
or  designation  of  the  previous  station  and  the  number  of  the  sight  from  it  to  the 
point  to  be  fixed  by  the  cross-sight.  In  the  second,  on  a  sketch  made  from  a  prr.vious 
station,  was  record'^d  in  brackets,  at  the  sketch  of  the  point  cross-sighted,  the  sight 
taken  from  a  second  station.  Both  these  methods  obviate  the  necessity  of  makiug 
more  than  one  complete  sketch  of  a  view  having  nearly  the  same  aspect  from  two  dif- 
ferent stations.  Thej'^  tend  to  cause  stations  to  be  occupied  in  pairs  with  reference  to 
a  number  of  prominent  topographical  features,  aud  this  I  believe  to  be  an  excellent 
practice. 

The  altitude  of  points  fixed  by  cross-sights  was  determined  by  angles  of  elevation  or 
depression  from  barometric  stations. 


1272  EEPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

TRIANGULATION. 

Theraain  poinf.s  on  which  onr  triangnlation  depends  are:  MonntRose,  10,820  feet; 
Mount  Lyon,  8,815  feet;  Tutib  Peak,  7,002  feet;  Basalt  Peak,  0,599  feet;  Faiiview 
Peak,  8,412  feet;  Tarogqna  Peak,  8,771  feet;  Grant  Peak,  9,905  feet;  Desatoya  Peak, 
9,921  feet;  Paradise  Peak,  8,002  feet;  and  Bunker  Hill,  11,405  feet,  and  Poston  or 
DaVies  Peak,  11,756  feet,  in  the  Toyabe  Range.  From  each  of  these  stations  repeated 
angles  were  taken  to  Cory's  Peak,  the  highest  point  in  the  Wassnck  Range,  and  situ- 
ated just  west  of  Walker  Lake  ;  and  from  Mount  Rose,  Basalt,  Paradise,  and  Davies 
Peaks  angles  were  taken  to  White  Mountain  Peak,  which  is  to  the  east  of  Benton,  Cal. 
The  triai'gle — Davies,  MonntRose,  and  White  Mountain  Peaks — which  will  be  completed 
when  the  angle  at  White  Mountain  Peak  is  measured,  is  a  very  large  one.  The  lengths 
of  its  sides  are- 
Mile  a. 

From  Davies  to  Rose 142.45 

From  Rose  to  White  Mountain 134.25 

From  White  Mountain  to  Davies 88.00 

The  instruments  were  returned  in  good  condition,  except  that  the  wet  bulb  of  psy- 
chrometer  No.  8  was  broken,  being  blown  from  the  top  of  a  peak  by  the  wind. 

Mr.  Spiller  was  untiring  iu  his  efforts  to  do  the  work  thoroughly  and  well. 

Mr.  Cowles,  in  addition  to  his  designated  duties  as  meteorological  observer,  constantly 
performed  those  of  a  topographer  as  well,  and  in  both  instances  with  credit  to  himself. 


The  twenty-five  days'  rations  taken  at  Carson  lasted  the  party  as  far  as  West  Gate 
The  dny  after  we  reached  that  ]>lace,  the  team  iu  charge  of  Corporal  O'Neil  arrived 
fiom  Carson,  with  provisions  for  the  party  for  the  remainder  of  the  season.  Taking 
out  sufficient  to  last  us  as  far  as  Dead  Horse  Well,  I  instructed  the  corporal  to  return 
to  R.igtown  for  grain  left  there  bj'  me,  and,  returning  through  West  Gat«s  to  proceed 
to  Ellsworth,  leaving  there  some  grain ;  thence  to  ])roceed  by  the  old  Wellington  road 
to  Dead  Horse  Well,  and  leave  there  a  supply  of  rations  for  fifteen  days  and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  graiu.  These  orders  he  faithfully  carried  out,  and  proceeded  to  Reno, 
where  he  reported  to  Lieutenw,nt  Tillman.  On  our  arrival  at  Dead  Horse  Well,  the 
rations  there  were  taken  up,  and  lasted  through  the  field-season. 


Although  much  of  this  country  is  well  adapted  to  grazing  loose  animals,  there  is  little 
luxuriant  growth  of  grass.  A't  "the  time  of  the  year  in  which  we  traveled  through  it 
the  pasturage  was  very  dry  and  short,  where  there  was  any  at  all.  In  every  instance 
we  were  compelled  to  pitch  our  camp  either  on  ground  already  taken  np  by  rauchinen, 
or,  more  often,  in  places  where  the  pasturage  was  much  too  scanty  to  subsist  the  ani- 
mals by  feeding  loose  overnight.  We  were  thus  compelled  to  carry  or  purchase  grain 
at  all  times,  and  hay  was  fed  whenever  it  could  be  obtained.  The  animals  came  in  in 
excellent  condition,  having  been"  fed  during  the  season  a  daily  average  of  6^  i)Ounds  of 
barley  and  0.3  pounds  of  hay.  The  price  of  barley  varied  from  4^  cents  per  pound  at 
West  Gate  to  3  cents  in  Reese  River  Valley  and  2^^  cents  iu  Mason  Valley.  Hay  was 
2J-  cents  per  pound  at  West  Gate  and  1  cent  in  the  valleys. 

A  list  of  road-distances,  with  remarks  as  to  wood,  watec,  &c.,  is  transmitted  here- 
with. 

After  the  disbandraent  of  the  parties  at  Carson,  and  in  accordance  with  instructions, 
I  proceeded  to  Camp  Indei)endence,  California,  with  the  animals,  &c.,  used  by  the  par- 
ties in  the  iield.  I  left  Carson  December  4 ;  two  non-commissioned  officers  and  three 
privates  of  Company  D,  Twelfth  Infantry,  and  four  civilian  employes,  being  of  the 
p.arty.  We  had  in  charge  two  six-mule  teams  and  one  light  wagon,  with  eighty-five 
anim:ils  in  all.  We  arrived  at  Camp  Independence,  without  accident,  December  13. 
I  at  once  turned  over  the  pro^ierty  to  Lieutenant  Wotherspoou,  Twelfth  Infantry. 
This  completed  niy  duties  in  the  field. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

R.  BiRNiE,  Jr., 
First  Lieutenant  Thiritenth  Lifantry. 

Lieut.  Georgk  M.  Wheeler, 

Corjjs  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1273 

Appendix  E. 

EXECCTIVK  AND  DESCRIPTIVB  RKPOKT  OV  LIEUTENANT  CHAULKS  C.  MORRISON.  SIXTH 
CAVALRY,  ON  THE  OPERATIONS  OE  PARTY  NO.  2,  COLORADO  SECTION,  FIELD-SEA- 
SON  OE   1876. 

Office  of  United  States  Geographical  Surveys, 

West  of  the  IOOth  Meridian, 

IVashiiigfon,  D.  C,  April  1,  1877. 
Sir  :  I  liave  the  houor  to  rciuler  tho  following  executive  report  of  operations  of  party 
No.  2,  Colorado  Divisi'  n  of  the  survey,  (luring  the  liehl-seasou  of  1876,  together  with 
a  brief  descriptiou  of  the  country  traversed  and  its  resources  : 

executive    REJ'ORT. 

The  Colorado  Section,  consisting  of  Party  No.  1,  which  was  taken  charge  of  by  Lieu- 
tenant Bergland,  Corps  of  Engineers,  shortly  after  its  leaving  the  rendezvous-camp, 
aud  my  own  party.  No.  2,  was  orgnnized  at  Fort  Lyon,  Colorado,  late  in  August. 

The'parties  took  the  field  on  the  29tb  and  3Uth  of  Aujiust,  respecMvely.  The  pe'sonncl 
of  the  <aie  under  my  charge  was  Lieut.  C.  C.  Morrisor,  Sixth  Cavalry,  executive 
othcer  aiid  field  astnmomer  ;  Mr.  Fiank  O.  Maxson,  topographical  assistant ;  Mr.  George 
M.  Dunn,  meteorological  observer;  Mr.  Lanier  Dunn,  aneroid  and  odometer  recorder; 
A.  K.  Mitchell  aud  Martin  Sanchez,  packers  ;  Edmund  Rocrofd,  laborer;  Thomas  Ken- 
nedy, p  cker  and  cook. 

From  Fort  Lyon  the  party  proceeded  to  Trinidad,  following  generally  the  drainage 
of  the  Purgatoire,  following  on  the  west  side,  thus  cutting  all  dr;iins  coming  in  on  that 
bank.  About  eightuiiles  above  Trinidad  we  left  Purgatoire,  fol owing  up  Long's  CaJion, 
crossing  the  divide  at  its  head,  and  coming  down  upon  the  ups^er  waters  of  the  Cana- 
dian. Here  a  belt  of  country  was  closely  surveyed,  locating  the  heads  of  tli:it  river. 
Thence  we  proceeded  across  "the  heads  of  the  Vermejo  aud  Point,  via  Eliz 'bi-thtowu 
and  Taos  Pass,  into  the  valley  of  the  Kio  Grande.  Entering  the  Taos  Valley,  some 
two  miles  southeast  of  Fernandez  de  Taos,  we  passed  th?ough  the  lower  edge  of  the 
vallev,  striking  the  Rio  Grande  at  Cienegnilla;  thence  following  the  main  stream, 
through  the  canon  of  the  Rio  Grande  known  as  the  Caja  del  Rio,  the  party  proceeded 
to  Santa  Fe,  at  which  point  rations  were  obtained  and  comparisons  were  made  of 
nieteoroloiiical  instruments  with  those  of  the  Signal  Department,  as  the  survey  of  the 
belt  of  country  to  the  south  was  to  be  referred  for  its  vertical  element  to  this  point. 
Three  days'  (.liservations  were  taken  here  for  horary  curve,  and  the  triangnlation- 
Btatiofi  on  the  hill  just  north  of  this  city  was  re-occupitd  for  development  of  the  base 
and  system  of  triangles  to  the  south,  the  party  left  Santa  F6  September  21,  and  on 
the  2:^(1  Old  Placer  Peak  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Maxson,  as  triangulation-station,  while 
the  mining  district  of  New  Placers  was  examined  by  myself.  Stations  were  then  made 
on  the  Saudia  and  Manzano  Mountains  for  triangulatinn  and  topography. 

At  Mosca  Peak  the  party  was  detained  four  ( r  five  days  by  cold  heavy  rains— the 
equnoctial  storm.  From  the  Manzano  Range  we  worked  eastward  over  the  plateau 
extending  from  the  base  of  these  mountains  aud  re-oecupied  Pedernal  Peak;  thence, 
proceeding  southwest,  through  the  plains  of  the  many  alkaline  lakes,  we  passed  the 
Salt  Lake  m-oper,  from  which  salt  chemically  very  nearly  pure  is  obtained  in  coarse 
crystals.  We  recrossed  the  Manzano  Range  by  Comanche  Pass,  having  first  c  ccupied 
Osha  Peak  for  triangulation  and  topography,  and  worked  up  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
range.  Descending  Comanche  Canon,  we  c'ros'^ed  the  plateau  extending  to  the  Rio 
Gran(\e,  striking  th- river  oi)posite  Los  Lunas.  From  Los  Lunas  a  me'inder  line  was  run 
to  Socorn-,  on  each  bank  of  the  river;  the  one  by  Mr.  Maxson.  the  o'her  by  myself.  At 
this  place  rations  were  obtained,  aud  tlie  party  proceeded  to  the  Socorro  Mouutaius, 
camping  at  Culebra  Springs.  Socorro  Peak,  Culebra,  aud  Polvadera  Peaks  were  all 
occupied  for  triangulation  and  topography.  Thence  we  proceeded  to  the  Magdaleua 
Mountains,  leaving  ihe  main  camp  in  cain'ju  Del  Agua.  Mr.  Maxson  and  myself,  with 
cue  packer,  ascended  the  peak,  expecting  it  would  beneces  ary  to  stay  away  one  night 
and  a  day  for  triangulation,  topography,  a  d  azimuth  observations.  Before  reaching 
the  top  we  were  caught  in  a  blinding  snow-storm.  We  made  camp  at  tl»e  edge  of  tim- 
ber-line, and  then  had  to  wait  four  days,  without  tents  and  with  1  jsufiicient  blankets, 
with  no  water  except  that  obtained  by  melting  snow,  and  but  scant  supplies.  Our 
animals  suffered  much  from  want  of  water  and  grass,  as  we  had  nothing  we  could  melt 
snow  enough  in  for  them,  nor  would  they  eat,  as  they  suffered  from  thii>t.  The  point 
was  very  important  in  the  system  of  triangles.  Over  three  hundred  angular  readings 
were  made  on  this  one  point  by  Mr.  Maxson,  aud  an  astronomical  azimuth  was  deter- 
miLcd  Jiy  myself.  He  afterward  occupied  Garcia  Peak,  in  the  same  range,  while  I 
examined  the  minnal  deposits  in  these  mountains. 

From  tho  Magdaleua  Mouutaius  we  proceeded  via  the  Quinza  drain  to  the  Ladrones 


1274        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

Mountains,  then,  after  occupyinp;  these  for  Iriangnlation  and  topography,  to  Sabinal ; 
here  the  party  was  divided,  Mr.  Maxson,  Mr.  George  Diiuu,  and  one  packer  proce  ding 
up  tho  Puerco  Creek,  whiie  the  main  party  proceeded  to  Los  Liinas,  where  the  side 
party  was  to  rejoin  them.  Again  we  were  reminded  of  the  approacliing  wi  ter  season. 
The  mountains  inclosing  the  va!ley  wern  covered  with  snow.  From  Los  Lnnas  we 
moved  to  Ojo  de  la  Casa,  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Manzauos.  thence  southward  to 
Abo  Pass,  running  along  the  base  with  traverse-lines  up  the  drains  and  occuj  yingSouth 
Manzauos  Peak,  wiirki-g  up  thus  the  western  draining  and  topographical  forms  of 
these  mountains.  In  the  low  range  to  the  south  several  subordinate  points  were  occu- 
pied for  tojioiiraphy  as  three-point  stations,  from  which  accnr.te  sketches,  iustru- 
mentally  checked,  were  made.  The  belt  extending  to  the  river  was  thus  traversed. 
From  Sdcorros  we  proceeded  to  Fort  Craig,  at  which  point  we  were  to  obtain  rati<>n:». 
Arriving  there  Noveni:  er  10,  we  were  detnined  by  a  snow-storm  for  thret  days.  Froni 
Fort  Crais  we  worked  up  the  belt  east  of  the  river  between  th"  Chnpadero  plateau 
and  the  Rio  Grande  up  to  Abo;  thence  we  proceeded  to  Mestefiito  Spring ;  here  we 
were  overtaken  by  another  snow-storm,  coveiing  the  grass  entirely.  To  save  our 
animals  we  proceeded  to  a  ranch,  at  Antelope  Spring,  where  forage  couH  be  obtained, 
marching  all  day  in  a  blinding  snow-storm,  unable  to  see  a  hundred  yards  ahe.ul  of  us. 
The  trail  had  to  be  followed  by  occasionally  noticing  little  depressions  in  the  snow. 
"We  arrived  late  in  the  afternoon.  That  night  the  thermometer  fell  to  WV-^  below  zero. 
Fortunately  none  of  the  animals  were  froze  ■,  although  at  other  ranches  we  afterward 
heard  of  fou'teen  being  frozen  to  death  in  one  h  rd  and  twenty-nine  in  another,  and 
doubtless  if  we  had  not  been  able  to  obtain  the  shelter  of  a  stockade  ours  also  would 
have  been  lost.  This  extreme  cold  determined  us  to  start  on  the  return  trip.  Moving 
to  Los  Posos  del  Puis,  we  there  reached  the  point  farthest  southeast  covered  by  our 
work  during  the  season.  Moving  northward  over  the  main  route  from  Fort  Stanton 
to  Anton  Chico,  we  passed  through  there  November  30.  The  w.  ather  having  moder- 
ated somewhat,  we  iccupi  d  Mesa  Chupaines  for  triangulations ;  thence,  c^os^ing  the 
Gallmas  Creek  at  the  La  Liendre,  we  went  up  Canon  del  Agua,  and  from  there  to  Fort 
Union  by  way  of  Las  Vegas.  At  this  point  we  received  the  ujosr  c  rdial  treatment  at  the 
hands  of  the  othcers.  P>om  Union  our  i  oute  led  to  the  Vado  de  la  Piedra,  or  Rock  Ranch 
ford  of  the  Canadian  ;  thence,  by  the  Dry  Cimarron  route  to  the  Chaquaqua  Canon. 
Leaving  the  old  Dodge  cut-otia  short  distance  be\ond  this,  we  went  by  the  u  w  rou'e, 
which  cresses  the  Purgatoire  at  Nine-Mile  Bottom  and  makes  junction  with  the  Trini- 
dad rofad  a  short  distance  south  of  A  kaline  Station.  Th's  route  we  followed  to  Fort 
Lyon,  at  wh  ch  post  the  party  arrived  December  14.  The  topographical  instruments 
used  during  the  season  were  first  Bulfand  Berger  8-inch  transit,  graduated  to  lOte^  ends 
horizontal  limb,  capable  of  btingread  by  a  practiced  eye  to  5  seconds.  This  instrument 
was  A-ery  good,  and  worked  to  entire  satisfaction  during  the  teasou  ;  it  was  used  on  all 
mean-tr;angnlation  stations.  One  of  Stackpole'o  7-inch  transits,  one  Young,  and  one 
Cassella  meandering  transit  were  also  used.  Horizontal  distances  were  measured  by 
odometer,  checked  by  numerous  three-point  stations,  the  whole  depending  upon  the 
primary  and  secondary  triangulatiou-points  of  the  system  developed  from  the  base 
near  Santa  Fe,  the  co-ordinates  of  the  extremities  of  which  were  astronomically  de- 
termined in  1873. 

Th«  meteorological  instruments  used  were  two  cistern  barometers,  three  aneroids 
with  the  complement  of  hygrometers,  maximum  and  minimum,  and  pocket  thermom- 
eters. One  of  the  cistern  barometers  used  had  Lieutenant  Marshall's  improvement, 
consisting  of  a  closely-fitting  inner  tube  filled  with  plaster  of  Paris,  completely  envelop- 
ing the  barometer  tube,  excepting  opposite  the  ^cale,  where  a  slit  was  made' to  permit 
reading.  This  barometer  was  used  for  mountain  work,  and  was  very  much  stronger, 
supported  as  it  was,  than  the  ordinary  tube.  It  was  dropped  fiom  the  shonkler  of  the 
meteorologist  once,  falling  on  end;  it  then  fell  over  to  its  side  on  a  board  floor  and  did 
not  break.  Later  in  the  season  it  was  broken  by  a  kick  from  a  mule;  even  then  it 
was  not  shattered,  but  cracked  throughout  the  length  of  the  tube  opposite  the  scale 
where  unsupported.  Although  a  little  heavier,  it  is  certainly  much  be;  ter  able  to  stand 
a  season's  work  than  the  present  form,  which  does  well  enough  for  the  standard  for 
camp.  The  field  astronomical  instruments  used  were  one  sextant  and  aititicial  horizon. 
The  season's  work  was  very  satisfactory;  earh  of  the  assistants,  Mr.  Maxson,  Geoigr) 
M.  Dunn,  and  Lanier  Dunn,  bending  every  effort  to  secure  such  results  as  deserved  tho 
highest  commendation.  Working  in  the  ni<  st  untiring  manner,  Mr.  Maxson's  labors 
were  rewarded  by  his  triangles  closing  very  finely.  The  meteorological  woik  also 
attested  the  care  of  Mr.  Dunn.  Each  member  of  the  party  endeavored  to  contiibute 
to  a  harmonious  wh^de,  and  succeeded.  Between  seven  and  eight  thousand  square 
niiles  of  country  were  completed,  in  accomplishing  which  the  party  traveled  between 
eighteen  and  nineteen  hundred  miles,  occupied  fifteen  triangulation  stations,  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-one  three-point  stations,  and  about  fifteen  hundred  nai'or  stations,  the 
altitudes  of  all  which  were  determined  and  entered  into  the  veitical  representation  of 
the  country.  The  transportation  returned  in  fair  condition,  considering  that  nearly  all 
the  time  they  had  no  corn  and  much  of  the  time  but  scanty  grass,  and  at  many  camps 
were  without  water. 


APPENDIX   NN.  1275 

GEXERAL   DESCniPTIOX   OF   THE   COUNTRY. 

The  country  traveled  by  the  party  was  entirely  south  of  the  Arkansas,  and  may  be 
divided  into  three  V>elts:  Firirt,  that  extending  from  that  stream  to  the  south  to  the 
Kiiton  spur  of  the  Rockv  ranjif- ;  second,  the  heads  of  the  Canadian  and  its  branches  in 
the  main  ranije;  third,  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  and  the  plateau  between  it  and 
the  Pecos.  Tliis  first  belt,  constitutes  avast  rollin<jplat<-au  of  uninterestinsi;  aspect,  tree- 
less, save  alonj;  the  b  ooks  which  seek  outl-t  in  the  Arkansas.  Little  a<:;ricultnral  land 
is  found;  that  little  is  confined  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  streams.  Vahiable 
this  land  certninly  is  as  <;razing  land,  but  it  has  little  to  attract  the  stranji;er.  In  the 
belt,  neaily  a  hundred  miles  across,  but  few  ranches  are  found.  Alonjr  the  immediate 
vall<\v  of  the  I'lUKatoire,  evidence  of  the  farmer  is  seen,  and  it  is  claimed,  doubtless 
justly,  that  the  finest  of  fruits  thrive  in  this  valley.  The  j^rain  there  pi"  duced  is  very 
promising.  Once  out  of  the  immediate  valley  a  wide  expanse  of  gently  rolling  monoto- 
nous country  pains  the  eye  in  the  hot,  dry  air  of  an  August  noonday.  Here  and  there 
it  is  broken  by  an  nrroyo,  in  wljich  an  uncertain  su]iply  of  alkaline  water  may  be  found. 
These  arioyos  deepen  as  they  a])proach  the  I'urgatoire,  and  may  well  near  their  months 
be  tt-rmed  canons,  boxed  up  as  they  are  by  their  sandstone  walls,  rendering  the  coun- 
try almost  impassable,  which,  farther  out  on  the  plains,  can  be  traversed  iu  almost  any 
direction  by  wagons.  , 

Here  little  is  seen  of  more  interest  than  the  large  herds  of  antelopes,  which,  with 
gentle  swinging  gait,  keep  just  out  of  rifle  range. 

On  the  main  freight  wngon  route  from  West  Las  Animas,  but  a  year  ago  the  termi- 
nus of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa  ¥6  Railroad,  we  tind  a  few  ranches.  After 
leaving  Sizer's  ranch  on  the  Purgatoire,  at  which  point  the  road  diverges  therefrom, 
we  first  come  to  the  old  stage-station  known  as  Alkali  Station.  Here  is  a  little  hut, 
with  stables  and  corral,  used  as  a  shelter  to  the  stock-tender  and  his  animals.  It  is 
now  deserted,  or  was  at  the  time  we  passed.  The  water  is  slightly  impregnated  with 
alkaline  salts.  Farther  on  are  Vogel's  ranch,  Bent's  Canon,  Lnckwood's  ranch,  and 
Hogback ;  of  these,  that  at  Bent's  Caiion  is  much  the  most  promising  ranch.  Near 
Hogback  is  a  sharp,  bare  hill  of  plutouic  rock,  from  which  this  station  gets  its  name. 
About  8  miles  from  Trinidad  the  road  again  approaches  the  Purgatoire  at  a  point  where 
the  valley  widens  out,  rendering  available  considerable  arable  land,  depending  simply 
ni»ou  ])roper  irrigation  and  cultivation  to  provide  ample  supjdies  for  the  town  spring- 
ing up  at  El  Moro,  the  present  terminus  of  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  narrow-gauge 
road,  which,  with  enterprise,  is  feeling  its  way  to  the  south,  gathering  the  freight  of 
New  Mexico.  This  latter  town  has  all  the  bustle  of  the  last  railroad  town,  and  may 
eventually  be  extended  to  unite  with  Trinidad,  the  older  and  laiger  p'ace,  some  .5 
miles  beyond,  the  growth  of  which  seems  to  have  increased  with  the  proximity  of  El 
Moro,  rather  than  to  have  been  sapped  by  it;  as  is  so  frequently  the  case.  Situated  as 
these  are  at  the  entrance  to  Raton  and  Long's  Canon  Passes,  they  are  less  likely  to  die 
out  as  the  rq§d  passes  on  beyond.  The  coal-field  in  the  vicinity  of  Triuifiad  will  con- 
trihute  to  its  support.  Beyond  the  cul-de-sac  iu  which  Tiinidad  is  situated,  the  char- 
acter of  the  country  changes  entirely.  The  rise  from  West  Las  Animas  to  Trinidad,  of 
2,158  feet,  is  very  gradual.  Here  the  fo'it-hills  of  the  main  Rocky  range  and  the  Raton 
spur  close  in.  Leaving  the  main  stage-road  at  Trinidad,  our  course  lay  up  the  Pur- 
gatoire for  about  8  units.  Ranches,  with  their  cultivated  fields,  claimed  each  inch  of 
ground  capable  of  tillage,  till  leaving  the  stream  we  follow  a  less  frequented  road, 
ascending  the  canon  with  even  grade.  Gently  rising,  we  pass  beyond  the  piuon  gi'owth 
marking  the  lower  hills  and  reach  the  pine-covered  country  extending  to  the  heavily 
broken  plateau  of  the  Raton  Pass,  hardly  to  be  styled  as  a  mountain  range  in  comparison 
with  the  bare,  bold  crests  of  the  serrated  rauge  from  which  it  springs.  Although  not 
reaching  the  elevation,  it  offers  in  its  broken  surfaces,  its  many  canons,  its  sharp  rises 
and  sudden  cuts,  almost,  as  great  ditficulties  to  engineering  skill  iu  locating  a  road 
across  it  as  the  more  prominent  ranges.  From  the  Purgatoire  t<t  Elizabethtown  is  a 
fan-like  succession  of  second  ry  ridges,  broken  by  the  cano'ns  of  the  Vermejo,  the  two 
branches  of  the  P.hil  and  the  Van  BrimnuT  Park.  This  whole  section  is  well  grassed, 
timbered,  and  watered,  and  for  a  nuiuurain  range  could  not  be  excelled  for  cattle. 
For  a  railroad  pass  to  Ciuiarron  and  country  east  of  the  mountains  it  is,  while 
higher,  of  so  much  better  grade  than  the  Raton  Pass,  that  Long's  Canon  would  prob- 
ably be  adi'pted  iu  preference  to  the  latter,  having  for  its  southern  outlet  the  course 
of  the  Canadian  to  Red  River  Station.  For  a  direct  pass  to  Elizabethtown  it  conld  be 
only  made  available  by  the  most  careful  study  of  the  minor  topograi)hy,  deviaing  iu 
many  y)laces  from  the  pre.-ent  located  wagon  routes  Elizabethtown  is  situated  at  the 
head  of  a  fine  park  at  the  base  of  the  Bald,  between  this  peak  and  the  main  range  ; 
with  perhaps  less  bustle  than  iu  former  da>s,  it  is  still  a  mining  town  of  some  little 
prosperity.  From  Elizabethtown  to  the  entrance  of  Taos  Pass  extends  a  beautiful 
park,  piesenting  no  difficulty  to  a  railroad  route;  the  pass  is  a  good  one,  aud  will 
doubtless  be  eventually  utilized  ;  the  wagon  road  is  fair,  but  in  need  of  work. 

Taos  Valley  is  one  of  the  finest  grain-growing  districts  in  New  Mexico,  extending  from 


1276        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

the  base  of  the  tnonntain  nearly  to  the  Caiion  of  the  Rio  Grande,  from  the  nionlh  of  the 
United  States  Mountain  Caiion  to  the  Canon  of  Pueblo  Creek.  On  it  are  Fernandez  do 
Taos,  the  old  Mexican  town,  near  which  is  the  Pueblo  de  Taos,  the  old  Indian  town, 
former  capital  of  the  Pueblo  Nation,  Ranchode  Taos,  formerly  snb  rdinate  to  the  Fer- 
nandez Plaza,  but  now  nearly  equal  in  population,  and  Los  Cordovas,  at  the  junction 
of  the  streams  watering  the  other  towns.  The  RioGrarde  opposite  this  valley  is  boxed 
in  a  great  canon  about  800  feet  deep,  extending  GO  miles  to  the  north,  on  both  sides 
capped  with  basalt.  The  Arroyo  de  Cieneguilla  runs  just  east  and  south  of  the  basalt, 
and  from  the  little  town  on  the  other  river-bank  of  the  same  name  the  stream  divides 
the  two  formations;  on  the  west  is  the  purplish  black  of  the  basalt,  on  the  east  the 
vaiiegated,  tinted,  illy  formed  granite  from  the  neaily  fused  quartz  and  feldspar, 
■with  its  white,  pink,  and  red  shades,  to  the  dark  gray  of  the  more  micaceous,  triable 
rock.  On  the  west  the  direct  result  of  the  internal  heat  is  vomited  forth  upon  the 
earth.  On  the  east  is  found  the  metamorphosed  sandstone,  burnt  cri^p  by  the  more  in- 
direct action.  Farther  down,  the  river  again  cuts  asunder  the  basalt  plateau,  but  to 
open  out  at  La  Joya  iuto  a  wide  valley,  nteding  but  American  enterprise  to  re;  laim  it 
from  a  sandy  plain  and  render  it  rich  in  croi>s  of  cereals.  Even  the  simp  e  efforts  of 
the  Mexican  have  been  rewarded  with  rich  vineyards  and  fair  orchards.  The  native 
fruit,  excepting  the  grape,  is  not  of  tine  flavor,  but  where  the  trees  brought  from  the 
East  have  been  cultivated  the  result  has  been  very  encouraging  indeed.  La  Joya,  Los 
Luceros.  Plaza  del  Alcalde,  San  Juan,  and  San  Ildefonso  a  e  found  on  the  river,  and  Santa 
Cruz,  P(  joague,  Cnyamungue,  and  Tezuqneon  the  tributary  streams,  where  crossed  by 
the  main  road  leading  ro  SnntaF6.  Betwetm  Santa  F6  and  the  Rio  Grande  is  a  low  range 
of  hills.  South  of  Santa  Fe  the  main  range  dies  out.  The  mountains  fieyond  these,  east 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  in  prolongationof  tl'e  main  axial  line,  are  more  broken  up;  they  lose 
their  continuous  ridge-like  form.  North  of  the  Galisteo  are  the  Cerillos,  which  are  but 
low  hills,  azoic  in  f'rmatiou,  broken  by  many  basaltic  dikes.  They  would  be  of  li' tie  im- 
portance but  for  the  mines  of  argentiferous  galena  and  copper.  Several  thin  mines  of 
turquoise  have  been  rudely  worked  by  Indians,  Spaniards,  and  Mexicans.  There  are 
throughout  the  whole  region  evidences  of  old  mines,  worked  probably  Ijy  the  Spaniards 
■with  Indian  labor,  before  the  latter  drove  their  former  conquerors  from  the  country. 
South  of  the  Galisteo  are  the  old  Placers,  the  Puerto  or  New  Placer  Mountains,  the 
Sandia,  San  Pedro,  and  San  Isidro  Mountains,  in  all  of  which  are  mineral  deposits. 
The  formation  in  these  ranges  is  mainly  azoic  ;  toward  the  west  there  are  carbonifer- 
ous croppings.  The  Sandias  are  capped  with  fossiliferous  limestone.  The  Placers  have 
auriferous  copper-ores,  also  iron  and  coal.  The  Puerto  or  New  Placers  are  full  of  metal- 
liferous ores  and  deposits,  copper,  lead,  iron,  gold,  and  silver  ores.  The  Sandias  have 
many  traces  of  copper  and  lead.  The  ores  of  the  whole  region  require  careful  handling, 
■with  more  skill  than  has  yet  been  given  them.  There  is  no  doubt  as  to  their  existenes  in 
paying  forms  if  properly  t:eated.  About  both  the  new  and  old  Placers  gold-diggings 
that  would  give  very  large  returns  with  hydraulic  washing  extend  nrarly  around  the 
entire  bases.  The  water-supply  is  very  limited,  but  with  the  advent  of  qppital  means 
v/iU  be  found  to  bring  water  there,  to  reclaim  its  cost  twenty-fold.  Real  de  Dolores, 
Real  de  San  Francisco,  Alamocito,  San  Antonito,  San  Antonio,  and  Tijeras  all  are 
found  in  the  basins  between  these  mountains.  We.-^l  of  the  Sandias  is  the  Kio  Grande 
Valley.  South  of  the  Sandias  are  the  Manzanos,  the  northern  portion  of  which  range 
consists  of  a  low  plateau  broken  up  by  numerous  canons,  the  branches  of  the  Tijeras 
Canon,  Coyote  Canon,  Canon  del  Norte,  Canon  Infieruo,  Cauon  de  los  Ejes  and  Moyas. 
The  western  slope  is  abrupt,  indeed  clitf-iike ;  the  dip  of  the  rock  to  the  e;ist  renders  it 
gently  rolling  country  in  tlnit  direction.  Just  south  of  Canon  Moyas  the  I'ange  shoots 
up  into  the  Mosca  Peaks,  which  run  above  timber-line.  The  limestone  is  again  here 
found.  From  Mosca  southward  to  Manzano  Peak  the  elevation  of  the  higher  poiufcs  is 
about  10,000  feet.  The  formation  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Sandias.  The  canons  o\  the 
■west  are  short  and  bounded  by  high,  clitf-like  walls;  those  on  the  east  and  southeast 
are  longer  and  more  tortuous.  The  range  can  be  crossed  by  Hell  Canon,  also  just  north 
of  Mosca,  following  up  Tejique  Creek,  or  by  Comanche  Canon,  south  of  Mosca.  That 
by  Hell  Canon  is  a  rough  wagon-road,  the  otheis  but  horseback-trails.  The  main  drain- 
age is  to  the  east;  Chilili  Tejique;  Torrr.on  Manzano,  Osha,  and  Abo  Creeks  being  the 
principal  waters.  On  the  wist  there  are  no  running  streams,  but  along  the  base  are 
found  Ojo  de  la  Casa,  Ojo  del  Trigo,  El  Hedioi.dillo,  Canon  de  Salas,  Ojo  del  Canon  de 
Monte  Largo,  Cristoo,  and  Justameute  Springs.  Farrher  out  on  the  plains  are  Ojo  de  la 
Cabra,  the  Ojuelos,  and  Ojo  de  los  Casos.  At  the  Ojutlos  is  a  line  sheep-ranch.  From  the 
base  of  the  mountain  the  rounti  y  slopes  gently  to  the  river  in  nearly  uniform  grade.  The 
river  valley  projier,  or  that  which  can  be  placed  under  irrigation  with  but  little  trouble, 
is  in  jdaces  from  3  to  5  miles  wide.  The  soil,  -^N^hile  sandy,  is  rich  in  salts  uourishing  to 
plants,  and,  with  water,  produces  the  most  inviting  fields.  Hardly  a  tenth  of  the  present 
arable  land  is  now  utilized.  Many  little  towns  extend  along  the  river  from  Albu- 
querque to  Fort  Craig;  on  the  we-t  bank  are  Atrisco,  Padillas,  Piijarito,  Isleta,  LosLunas, 
LosCharez,  RanchitosdeBelen,  Belen.Pueblitosde  Belen,  Los  Jarales,Puntodel  Bosque, 
Bosque,  Rauchitos  de  Sabiual,  Sabiual,  Pueblito  de  Sabinal,  Picacho  de  Sabiual,  Sau 


APPENDIX    NN.  1277 

Carlos,  San  Geroninio,  Alamillo,  Polvaclera,  Limitar,  Escondido,  Socorro,  Siin  Jos6,  Sau 
Autotiio,  San  Antonito,  and  San  Marcial.  On  tbo  cast  bank  are  Rancliitos  e  Islcta, 
Lo.s  Piuos,  Pfrolta,  Valencia,  Tome,  IJanchitos  de  Tome,  Constancia,  Casa  Colorada, 
Valleta,  Cinlinahna,  Las  Nutrias,  Kanclias,  San  Francisco  La  Joja,  La  Joyita,  Sa- 
bina,  Paeblito  de  la  Parida,  La  Parida,  Bosquecito,  Valverde,  La  Mesa,  and  Contradora. 
These  touns  vary  in  popnlation  from  a  lew  families  to  perliajis  l,H)0.  The  principal 
towns  are  IsUta,  LosLunas,  Helen,  and  Socorro  on  the  west  bank,  Valencia,  Coustancia, 
and  La  Joyaou  the  east  bank.  Socorro  is  marked  by  nuich  more  American  euter[)rise 
than  the  majority  of  New  Mexican  towns,  arisiuf;-  largely  from  the  mines  in  the  Majj- 
daleiia  Monurains  brinj^ing  money  into  the  section.  The  apj)roach  of  a  railroad  will 
brighten  up  the  prospects  of  the  country,  which  needs  but  enterprise  su|)ported  by 
capital  to  make  it  rich  in  its  own  resources.  The  grai>es  will  be  probably  the  main 
source  of  income  of  those  living  in  the  valley  proper.  West  from  Socorro  are  the  So- 
corro Mountains,  a  short  ridge  vt'  azoic  rock.  Copi)er  is  found  here.  Wist  of  this  range 
are  the  Magdalena  Range,  running  north  and  south,  which  have  throughout  their 
■whole  extent  mineral  ledgtis  and  deposits.  A  few  tissure-veius  with  (juartzite  wall- 
rocks  are  found,  but  generally  the  one  is  in  indertnite  deposits.  The  nt)rtliern  end  of 
the  range  has,  for  surface  rock,  carboniferous  limestone  resting  on  azoic  (juartzite.  It 
is  here  that  argentiferous  galena,  carbonate,  and  yellow  oxide  of  lead  are  found.  At 
jireseut  the  mines  i.re  not  extensively  worked.  The  ores  exist  in  suilicient  abundance 
to  well  pay  for  working  with  experienced  management,  but  with  haphazard  work,  of 
men  ignorant  of  proper  treatment  of  the  ores,  they  are  apt  to  obtain  a  repntatioa 
which  will  keep  capital  away.  Just  west  of  these  mountains  is  a  low  range  of  hills, 
near  the  Corona  del  Pueblo  Spring,  in  which  are  found  argentiferous  C(ii)per-oies. 
Sinking  prospect  shat  s  and  mining  with  little  or  no  system  has  been  done  here  with  the 
poor  results  almost  sure  to  follow  such  treatment  of  the  deposits.  North  of  these  are 
the  Laiirones,  a  sharp  uplift  broken  into  a  serrated  edge  difticult  of  approach,  and  so 
nearly  destitute  of  water  as  to  discourage  the  prospector;  traces  of  copper  are  found 
throughout  the  range.  The  southwest  spurs  are  caj)ped  with  limestone.  The  eastern 
rocky  slope  is  quartzite.  Mule  Spring,  in  a  drain  of  this  (southern  spur,  is  one  of  the 
few  water-croppings  in  the  range  proper.  The  northern  slope  is  very  precipitous. 
The  range  has  little  to  support  life;  grazing  is  not  as  good  as  usually  found  in  inonut- 
ains  ;  heu-.:e  less  game  and  very  few  cattle  are  seen.  The  point  as  a  triangulation-sta- 
tiou  is  very  important,  connecting  the  surveys  from  the  north  and  west  witli  the  system 
south  and  east.  The  peculiarity  of  this  range,  as  of  nearly  all  mountains  in  Southern 
New  Mexico,  is  the  suddenness  of  their  npliit.  With  bun  few  foot-hills  of  much  im- 
l)ortance,  they  rise  directly  from  the  plains  extending  about  their  bases;  hence,  the 
■water-sheds  being  small,  few  streams  are  found.  The  ])laius,  with  their  porous  soil  and 
nearly  level  surface,  quickly  drink  up  the  rains  and  give  them  out  only  by  the  rock- 
croiipiugs  at  the  springs  which  run  but  a  shoit  distance.  From  Abo  Pass,  extending 
to  the  south,  is  a  much  broken  plateau  of  sandstoae  country,  west  from  which  is  a 
narrow  plateau  of  drirt;  very  little  water  is  found  in  this  belt.  The  few  springs  are 
the  Ojo  Sepnlto,  Ojo  Parida,  Ojo  del  Cibolo,  and  Ojo  de  las  Canas ;  and  the  tanks  are 
Aguejes  de  hts  Torres,  de  los  Tomasceuos,  and  del  Cauoucito  on  the  wes',  and  the 
Llano  anil  Coyote  Springs  on  the  east.  The  water  supply  at  the  Parida  is  very  good ; 
that  at  Llano  Sprmg  has  been  developed  by  digging;  that  at  the  other  points  is  very 
limited.  On  the  eastern  portion  of  this  belt  is  a  sharp  ba.'altic  batte,  standing  in  ihe 
center  of  a  limited  volcanic  overflow  of  the  sandstones. 

Abo  Pass,  which  separates  this  belt  fro^n  the  main  range,  is  a  low  divide,  well  calcu- 
lated for  a  railroad-pass;  indeed,  the  best  in  connection  with  the  canon  Piedra  Pintada 
to  be  found  any  place  along  the  range  this  far  north.  At  Abo  and  Quara  are  old  ruins, 
presumably  Spanish,  built  at  the  lirsr.  occupation  of  the  country,  before  Europeans  were 
expelled  by  the  Pueblo  Indians.  The  two  main  buildings,  in  each  case  from  their  form 
Catholic  churches,  are  about  100  feet  long,  built  of  stone — a  laminated  sandsrone.  The 
walls  vary  from  3  to  7  feet  thick,  the  former  being  the  usual  thickness;  the  latter  that 
of  the  abutments.  Their  European  architecture  is  prol)able  from  being  built  in  that 
form  of  a  cross  usually'  adopted  by  the  descendants  of  the  Spaniards  in  their  churches. 
Arches  are  aLso  found,  in  which  respect  they  ditfer  entirely  from  the  ruins  found  in  the 
San  Juan  country,  which  are  ascribed  to  the  Aztecs.  lu  both  ruins  the  altars  were  at 
the  north  end  of  the  building. 

East  from  the  mouutaius  extends  the  immensa  plain,  broken  by  the  mesa-edge  on  the 
south  knowu  as  the  Jumanes.  Farther  east  are  three  hills  known  as  Las  Animas,  one 
of  which  we  called  Rattlesnake  Hill,  from  the  number  of  those  snakes  we  saw  there, 
probably  from  three  to  live  hundred.  In  sixty-five  minutes  three  of  us  killed  seventy- 
nine  snakes,  varying  in  size,  all  of  the  same  species.  The  largest  had  thirteen  rattles. 
Thfy  had  been  out  to  the  south  ot  the  hill,  and  toward  sunset  came  iu  for  their  night- 
shelter  in  the  rocks.  Southeast  of  these  hills  about  IS  miles  are  more  alkaline  lak"S. 
Wells  have  been  dug  near  them,  giving  fair  water.  The  station  is  known  as  Posos  del 
Pino.  From  here  northward  to  Pederiial  the  country  is  greatly  rolling,  with  fair  graz- 
ing.    B-youd  Pedernal  it  is  more  or  less  broken  by  drains  leadiiug  into  Canou  Piedra 


1278        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS 

Pintacla  and  Canon  Blanco.  From  Canon  Blanco  the  route  was  tlirou<!;h  the  plateau 
country,  extending  north  to  the  Dry  Cimarron,  all  of  which,  to  Fort  Lyon,  was  de- 
scribed in  your  annual  report  of  1876. 

I  desire  to  take  this  oi)i)ortunity  to  tender  my  thanks  to  the  members  of  the  party 
for  their  cordial  co-op-ration  in  the  work,  as  also  to  the  officers  of  the  military  posts 
visited  for  their  uniform  courtesy. 


I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 


Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Wheei.ek, 

Corps  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


Chas.  C.  Monnisox, 
First  Lieutenant  Sixth  Cavalry. 


Appendix  F. 


EXECUTIVE    AND    DESCRIPTIVE    REPOUT    OF    LIEUTENANT    M.    M.    MACOMB,    FOITKTn   AR- 
TILLERY. ON   THE   OPEKATIONS   OV   PARTY   NO.    2,  CALIFORNIA   SECTION,  FIELD  SEASON 

OF  1876.' 

United  States  Engineer  Office, 
Geographicaj.  Surveys  West  of  the  IOOtii  Meridian, 

Washington,  D.  C,  April  30,  1877. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  executive  report  of  the  ope-'ations  of 
party  No.  2,  California  division,  of  the  survey  under  your  cliarge  during  the  tield  season 
of  1876. 

The  party  renclezvoused  at  Carson  City,  Nov.,  during  the  latter  part  of  August  and 
the  tirst  part  of  September,  being  one  of  the  parties  organized  there  under  your  super- 
vihion.  It  was  composed  as  follows:  Lieut.  M.  M.  Macomb,  Fourth  Artillery,  execu- 
tive ofBcer  and  field  astronomer;  Frank  Carpenter,  topogi^apher ;  Alfred  Dubois  and 
Sergeant  G.  W.  Ford,  Twelfth  Infantry,  recorders  ;  H.  W.  Henshaw,  naturalist ;  A.  R. 
Conkling,  geologist ;  W.  H.  Rideing,  general  assistant ;  two  packers,  one  teamster,  and 
two  cooks. 

During  the  first  few  days  of  September,  Mr.  Carpenter  was  employed  in  working  up 
the  topography  of  Eagle  Valley,  in  which  Carson  City  is  situated.  On  the  7th,  he  was 
sent  out  with  a  small  party  for  the  purpose  of  making,  if  f  mud  advantageous,  a  pri- 
mary triaugulatiou-station  on  Spanish  Peak,  north  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  at 
the  same  t  me  surveying  a  line  through  country  that  would  not  be  traversed  by  the 
other  i)arties,  the  trip  to  occupy  seven  or  eight  days.  Meantime  arrangements  were 
nuide  for  the  storage  of  all  surplus  property,  the  purchase  of  forage  for  use  during  the 
season,  and  the  supplying  of  parties  in  the  held.  For  this  latter  purpose  it  was  found 
necessary  to  increase  the  means  of  transportation,  and,  accordingly,  on  the  13th,  six 
team-raulef*  were  purchased  by  telegraphic  authority  from  the  Quartermaster-General. 

While  at  the  rendezvous,  Messrs.  Henshaw  and  Conkling  found  ample  employment 
for  their  time  in  their  respective  branches,  the  former  in  makina;  collections  in  zoology, 
the  latter  in  visiting  the  various  mines  and  mineral  and  thermal  springs  in  the  vicinity. 
Besides  these  duties,  both  rendered  assistance  to  the  other  members  of  the  party  in  keep- 
ing up  the  hourly  series  of  meteorological  observations  commenced  August  26,  a  detail 
being  constantly  employed  day  and  night. 

The  work  especially  assigned  io  my  party  was  the  survey  of  Lake  Tahoe  and  the 
neighboring  country,  the  line  of  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad  being  the  northern  limit. 
Part  of  this  area  lies  in  Nevada,  part  in  California,  and  when  mapped  will  appear  upon 
Atlas-sheets  47  D  and  56  B.  A  short  description  of  its  general  topographical  features 
will  be  given  here. 

Beginning  with  the  peaks  just  north  of  the  well-known  Carson  Pass  in  the  Sierra 
Nevada,  there  is  a  well-marked  bifurcation,  the  main  ridge  here  sending  out  a  bold  and 
lofty  spur  to  the  northward,  itself  continuing  on,  but  with  diminished  height,  to  the 
northwest.  This  spur  is  loftier  than  the  maiu  ridge,  having  au  average  altitude 
of  9,800  feet.  It  culminates  to  the  south  iu  Freel's  Peak,  and  to  the  north  in  Mount 
Rose,  in  whose  vast  mass  it  terminates.  Both  of  these  points  are  over  10,800  feet  above 
sea-level.  It  is  called  the  Eastern  Summit,  iu  contradistinction  to  the  m  mu  ridge, 
which  is  known  as  the  Western.  Southwestwardly  from  Mount  Rose  runs  a  loug  spur, 
reaching  almost  to  the  western  summit,  between  which  and  itself  it  leaves  a  narrow 
valley.  There  is  thus  formed  in  the  bosom  of  the  Sierras  a  triangular  basin  with  a  length 
of  about  37  miles  and  a  base  of  perhaps  h<ilf  that  dimension.  At  the  southern  apex  of 
this  triangle  the  Upper  Truckee  takes  rise,  and  meanders  its  way  for  about  1.5  miles 
through  the  beautiful  and  fertile  Lake  Valley,  finally  expanding  into  Lake  Tahoe,  which 
occupies  the  northern  part  of  the  basin.  Vastly  increased  in  volume,  it  issues  fiom  the 
lake,  through  the  narrow  valley  above  referred  to,  a  heavy  and  rapid  stream.  Flowing 
west  a  short  distance,  it  changes  its  course  to  the  north,  and  then  making  a  grand 


APPENDIX    NN.  1279 

sweep  to  tbe  east,  flows  onward,  finally  emptying  into  Pyramid  Lake,  wLicli  has  no 
visible  outlet.  Thus  the  waters  of  the  Lake  Tahoe  Valley  are  tributary  to  that  great 
interior  basin,  that  peculiar  system  of  so-called  "sinks,"  in  which  all  the  waters  of 
Nevada,  witb  a  few  trifling  exceptions,  are  swallowed  up.  The  eastern  summit  breaks 
down  (luite  precipitously  to  the  east  into  the  valley  of  the  Cars>n,  some  of  the  bi'auches 
of  which  river  rise  in  the  little  valleys  of  Hope,  Faith,  and  Charity  just  east  of  Carson 
Pass.  Tlie  western  snmmio  slopes  graduidly  to  the  west,  all  its  waters  from  Cirson 
Pass  to  Summit  Station  on  the  Central  I'aciiic  Railroad  (some  4'.i  miles)  being  collected 
into  the  American  Kiver  by  its  south,  uiiddle,  and  north  forks  and  their  various 
branches,  by  which,  as  might  be  expected,  numerous  valleys  and  deep  canons  are 
formed. 

It  was  not  until  the  14th  of  September  that  the  party  moved  into  the  area  assigned 
to  it,  when  camp  was  made  at  Glenbrook,  on  the  east  shore  of  Lake  Tahoe.  Tiie  route 
followed  from  Carson  was  over  the  King's  Canon  road,  which,  winding  up  the  slojje 
of  the  eastern  summit  until  it  attains  an  altitude  of  some  '2,.500  feet  above  oar  camp  in 
Eagle  Valley,  descends  to  the  lake,  giving  grades  practicable  for  heavy  teams.  Another 
route  between  Carson  and  Glenbrook,  known  as  the  Clear  Creek  route,  and  nsed  by 
the  Lake  Tahoe  stage-line,  joins  the  lirst  mentioned  at  the  summit.  A  steep  grade  ou 
this  road  not  far  from  the  tunimit  causes  the  King's  Canon  route  to  be  i)referred  for 
heavy  teaming.  The  stage-ionte  is  about  a  mile  and  three-quarters  shoiter  than  the 
other,  by  which  the  distance  is  about  fifteen  and  a  quarter  miles.  Travelers  by  either 
route  pay  toll  at  the  summit. 

Glenbrook  is  very  prettily  situated  on  a  small  bay  about  the  middle  of  the  east 
shore  of  the  lake.  A  brook  flowing  through  a  deep  and  shady  glen  empties  into  this 
bay  and  gives  the  place  its  name.  Settled  in  I860,  it  was  the  first  place  of  any  per- 
manence ou  the  liike,  and  is  nf)w  the  princi])al  village,  claiming  some  i'our  hunrired  in- 
habitants. It  is  the  center  of  the  Lake  Tahoe  lumber-trade  and  possesses  four  saw- 
mills and  a  planing-mill.  The  saw-logs  are  floated  here  from  lumber-camps  on  the 
north,  west,  and  south  shores  of  tbe  lake,  and  I  was  informed  that  about  25,000,0t.'0 
feet  of  sawed  lumber  are  annually  turned  out.  The  principal  markets  are  Virgijiia 
and  Gold  Hill,  tbe  great  muiing  center  of  Nevada.  The  lumber  is  now  carried  to  the 
top  of  the  eastern  summit  by  means  of  a  narrow-gauge  railroad  built  in  1875.  As  the 
grade  of  the  wagon-road  from  Glenbrook  to  the  summit  is  about  290  feet  to  the  mile, 
the  railroail  avoids  this  by  running  some  three  miles  north  of  Glenbrook,  then  ascends 
the  slope  by  a  zigzag,  the  general  plan  of  which  would  be  a  flattened  and  distorted  Z. 
Tiie  angles  of  the  Z  are  arranged  as  the  ordinary  railroad  Y,  and  thus  a  considerable 
diflerence  of  level  is  oveixome  by  moderate  grades.  From  the  summit  a  flun)e  between 
•J  and  10  miles  in  length  runs  down  the  Clear  Creek  Canon,  and  by  this  fire-wood  or 
lumber  can  be  delivered  within  a  mile  of  Carson.  Received  here  by  the  cars  of  the 
Virginia  and  Truckee  Railroad,  it  can  be  carried  to  the  points  where  it  is  wanted. 

One  of  the  first  objects  to  strike  the  eye  after  rtaohing  GUnbroek  is  a  jik  niiuent 
mass  of  baalt  just  to  the  south,  which  bears  the  interesting  name  of  Shakespeare's 
Cliff.  A  m(mieiit's  careful  inspection  will  show  on  an  aluiost  vertical  escarjuiieut  not 
far  from  the  summit  a  mass  of  greenish-gray  lichens  standing  out  plainly  against  the 
dark  surface  of  the  rock.  A  glance  at  this  will  without  any  stretch  of  the  imagiua 
tion  transform  it  iuto  a  truly  striking  resemblance  to  tbe  head  and  bust  of  tbe  great 
poet  as  seen  in  profile;  the  high  fon-head,  massive  brows,  and  pointed  beard  being 
wondeifnlly  reproduced.  This  was  plainly  visible  from  our  camp  in  the  neighborhood 
of  a  mile  to  the  north.  Situated  about  the  middle  of  the  eastern  shore,  and  not  half  a 
mile  from  it,  with  an  altitude  of  some  800  feet  above  the  lake,  the  cliff  aftbrds  a  fine 
I)anorama  of  the  entire  western  and  the  greater  part  of  tbe  northern  and  southern 
shores.  Of  the  lake  itself  I  attempt  no  descrii)tion,  as  that  will  be  found  in  full  in  the 
report  of  the  geologist,  but  the  following  facts  in  connection  with  it  may  be  of  interest: 

The  geographical  position  of  the  lake  is  well  fixed  by  the  one  hunlred  and  twen- 
tieth meridian  of  west  longitude  transversing  its  length,  and  the  tliirty-ninth  parallel 
of  north  latitude  crossing  its  southern  end.  Its  developed  shore-line  may  be  set 
down  in  round  numbers  at  70  miles,  and  its  superficial  area  at  about  188  square  miles, 
of  which  two-fhirds  lies  in  California,  the  remainder  in  Nevada.  Five  counties  border 
upon  it:  Washoe,  Orrasby,  and  Douglas  in  Nevad  i ;  Eldorado  and  Placer  in  California. 
Thep'incipal  settlemsnts  are  Glenbrook,  ou  the  east  shore,  Rowland's,  o»  the  south, 
and  Tahoe  City  on  the  west.  The  others  are  McKinuey's,  on  the  west,  near  Sugar-pine 
Point,  Yank's  on  the  south,  and  Hot  Si)rings  on  the  north  shore,  and  State-line  Point. 
At  all  these  points  accommodations  may  be  found  for  tourists.  During  the  summer 
and  fall  Tahoe  Citj'  is  connected  with  Truckee  on  the  Central  Pacific  Railroafl  by  a 
daily  line  of  stages  carrying  passengers  and  mails,  while  Glenbrook  is  similarly  con- 
nected with  Carson.  A  small  steamer  makes  a  daily  tour  of  the  lake,  toucoing  at  all 
the  places  mentioned.  A  stage  is  also  sometimes  run  between  Hot  Springs  and  Truckee. 
A  good  road  connects  Glenbrook  and  Rowland's,  whence  a  moderately  good  one  runs  to 
Yank's.  Thence  to  McKinuey's  there  is  a  trail,  very  bad,  near  Euier,ild  Bay,  and  from 
McKinuey's  to  Tahoe  City  there  is  a  road.    A  rough  trail,  passable  for  riding  or  pack 


1280  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF   ENGINEERS. 

animals,  connects  Tahoe  City,  Hot  Springs,  and  Glenbrook.  Find  ng  at  Glenbrook  an 
excellent  campiug-ground  and  good  feed  for  the  animals,  it  was  decided  to  make  a 
main  camp  here  and  stndy  the  features  of  the  eastern  snnimit  by  detours  to  the  south 
and  north.  Accordingly,  on  the  arrival  of  the  topographer  at  this  camp,  a  trip  was 
made  to  the  soutb,  and  a  main  station  est.al)lished  on  a  well-defined  point,  showing 
well  from  the  stations  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  base,  near  Virgin  a  City.  Altont  this 
time,  a'so,  a  second  small  party,  in  charge  of  the  geologist,  was  ordered  to  make  a  trip 
around  the  lake,  putting  up  signals  on  points  along  its  borders,  which  miglit  be  of  as- 
sistance in  establishing  the  shore  line,  and  at  the  same  time  obtaining  reliable  infor- 
niat'ou  concerning  the  trails  and  roads  about  the  lake. 

The  work  along  the  range  to  the  south  having  been  completed  as  far  as  thought 
necessary  from  this  camp,  a  detour  was  made  to  the  north.  During  this  trip  the  narrow- 
gauge  railroad  already  referred  to  was  surveyed  and  the  lake  shore  meandered  far 
enough  to  the  north  to  be  c<mnected  wit4i  without  diffi;;ulty  on  the  home  trip. 

A  main  triangnlation  station  was  also  made  and  the  toi)ograph.y  of  the  range  finished 
as  far  as  possible  to  the  northward.  Marlette  Lake  was  likewise  visited  and  surveyed. 
This  little  lake  is  beautifully  situated  in  a  basin  jnst  west  of  the  main  ridge,  and  consid- 
erable interest  attaches  to  it  from  the  fact  thar  it  is  the  source  from  which  the  Virginia 
Water  Company  intend  drawing  their  supply.  It  is  easily  reached  by  a  very  fair  wagon- 
road  which  leaves  tlie  stage-road  at  Spooner's  Station,  about  five-eighths  of  a  mile  from 
the  summit.  It  drains  into  Lake  Tahoe,  but  by  damming  its  outlet  it.  has  been  increased 
to  many  times  its  original  size.  It  now  measures  about  H  niiles  in  length  by  half  a 
mile  in  breadth,  with  a  superficial  area  approximating  to  300  acres.  Our  barometric 
observations  make  its  altitude  7,750  feet  or  1,548  feet  above  Lake  Tahoe,  and  high  enough 
above  Virginia  City  and  Gold  Hill  (some  16  miles  distant  in  a  straight  line)  lo  give  a 
good  heail  there.  In  order  to  get  the  water  across  the  ridge  a  tunnel  is  being  pierced 
through  the  granite  rock  composing  it  about  3  miles  north  of  the  lake  where  the  ridge 
is  narrowest.  This  tunnel  is  in  a  fair  way  toward  completion,  and  will  have  a  length  of 
nearly  4,500  feet,  with  a  cross-section  of  about  6  by  8  feet.  The  water  will  be  led  to  its 
west  end  by  a  ditch  or  flume.  On  the  eastern  slope  the  flume  has  been  built  and  is  in 
operation,  being  at  present  fed  by  some  oi*  the  mountain  srreams  of  that  slope.  Pur- 
suing a  tortuous  course  down  the  mountain-side  until  a  steep  slope  is  reached,  the 
flume  discharges  its  contents  into  a  pipe  which  descends  rapidly  until  it  reaches  its 
lowest  point  at  Lake  View,  on  the  low  ridge  separating  Eagle  and  Washoe  Valleys. 
Following  up  this  ridge  for  some  5  miles  the  pipe  delivers  its  waters  to  a  flume  which 
conveys  them  to  their  destination,  Gold  Hill  and  Virginia. 

Returning  from  this  trip  to  the  Glenbrook  camp,  September  24,  we  were  delayed  a 
day  on  account  of  its  being  necessary  to  discharge  the  two  packers  and  a  cook,  whose 
places  I  was  f  irtunately  able  to  fill  without  much  difficulty.  Meantime  the  patty  sent 
around  the  lake  having  reported,  camp  was  moved  on  the  26th  to  a  point  near  Row- 
land's, on  the  south  shore  of  the  lake. 

About  3.3  miles  south  of  Glenbrook  the  road  passes  Cave  Rock,  which  is  the  most 
prominent  object  on  the  eastern  shore,  being  easily  discernible  from  our  stations  on  the 
western  ridge.  It  is  a  mass  of  porphyritic  trachyte  rising  some  150  feet  above  the  lake, 
the  road  l)eiug  carried  round  its  base  on  trestle-work.  The  rock  derives  it  name  from 
a  cave  extending  some  30  feet  into  ifs  side.  The  top  and  sides  of  this  cavern  are  dark- 
ened by  a  peculiar  pitchj-  deposit  similar  to  that  described  in  full  in  vol.  v,  (Zoology, 
p.  55y,)  of  the  published  reports  of  this  survey.*  Between  2  and  3  miles  farther  Zephyr 
Cove  is  reached,  once  a  popular  stage-station,  but  now  deserted. 

In  the  pa  my  days  of  staging,  before  the  completion  of  the  overland  railroad,  the 
road  was  kept  in  beautiful  condition,  and  sprinkled  twice  a  day.  Although  not 
traveled  nearly  so  much  as  formerly,  it  is  still  an  excellent  road,  and  a  great  deal  of 
farm  and  dairy  produce  passes  over  it  to  the  Virginia  markets.  In  about  4  niiles  from 
Zephyr  Cove  Sinall's  Station  is  passed,  at  which  point  the  Kingsbury  Grade  road  crosses 
toe  eastern  summit,  coming  out  in  the  Carson  Valley  about  3  miles  south  of  Genoa.  A 
little  less  than  a  mile  farther  on  Kearney's  Station  is  reached.  When  the  the  State- 
line  was  run  it  was  foand  to  pass  directly  through  the  inn,  and  it  is  said  that  guests 
may  dine  either  in  Nevada  or  California  by  simply  changing  sides  at  the  table.  The 
boundary  monument  on  the  lake  shore  near  by  was  visited  and  brought  into  the  scheme 
of  triangnlation.  Here  we  left  the  main  road,  which  continues  up  the  ea§t  side  of  the 
valley,  and  took  the  road  along  the  south  shore  of  the  lake  to  Rowland's,  and  camped 
in  a  meadow  near  by.  Leaving  the  main  party  here,  the  topographer  and  myself, 
with  a  small  party,  started  for  Freel's  Peak.  Bad  weather  and  a  broken  barometer 
obliged  us  to  devute  trt'odays  to  our  observations  here.  A  small  nmuument  and  a  bot- 
tle containing  I'ecrds  found  on  the  summit  showed  that  the  peak  had  been  visited  Sep- 

*  It  is  worthy  of  reinirk  that  care.ul  ob-servations  by  the  naturalist  of  the  p  irty  do 
not  confirm  the  theory  taere  advanced  asc  ibing  the  deposit  to  lizards,  but  point 
rather  to  the  opinion  expressed  by  Prof.  Cops,  that  it  is  produced  by  some  small  mam- 
mal, probably  the  Acoioma  cinerea. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1281 

teniber  15,  1.-74,  by  a  reconnoiteriiig  trinngnlation  party  of  tlie  United  States  Ooast- 
Siirvoy.  On  the  completion  of  oar  work  here  the  topofjraplier  made  adetonr  into  Hope 
Valley,  workiuj^  down  the  valley  of  the  Carson  almost  to  Genoa,  and  retnrniiiix  hv  tho 
Kinjrsbnry  Grade,  thns  finishing  the  topoj^raphy  of  the  eastern  snmniit  inclmled  be- 
twei'U  that  road  aud  Hope  Valley.  Meaniime,  findin<;  it  impossible  to  nse  the  Army 
waijon  on  the  west  side  of  tlie  lake,  I  sent  it  haek  to  Carson,  with  ;<11  surplns  impedi- 
ments for  storajre,  and  had  sntlicient  stores  to  last  the  remainder  of  the  season  deposited 
at  Glenbrook,  where  was  left  also  the  wa^on  and  sneh  teani-mnles  not  used  as  tiduii' 
or  pack  animals.  The  means  of  transportatioa  was  thus  reduced  to  ten  pack  and  twelve 
ridinj^  mules  and  one  extra  aniial. 

Rreakiiijj  camp  at  Rowland's  we  proceeded  south  through  Lake  Val'ey,  striking  the 
main  road  in  al>out  4^  miles.  Following  this  some  lU  miles,  Osgood's  toll-honse  is 
reached.  Here  the  road  leaves  the  Trnckee  Kiver  and  winds  up  the  slopes  of  the  west- 
ern snmniit,  which  it  crosses,  desceuding  the  western  slop(*  through  the  canon  of  tho 
South  Fork  of  the  American,  whicii  is  here  a  rapid  mountain  stream.  The  road  crosses 
it  by  a  bridge  at  Slijipery  Ford,  and  soon  after  passes  a  lofty  and  a'most  per[)endicnlar 
cliff  bearing  the  haikneyed  name  of  "'  Lover's  Leap."  At  Strawbeiry  Station,  a  mile 
farther  on,  there  is  another  toll-house.  Following  the  main  ro.id  some  4  miles  farther, 
■we  left  it  at  the  Georgetown  jumUion  and  passed  up  into  the  mountains,  camping  at 
Sawyer's  Rauche,  within  easy  striking  distance  of  our  objective  point — Pyramid  Peak, 
lu  the  western  snmniit.  Clouds  aad  mists  hanging  about  tho  peak  iuti-rrupted  our 
work  greatly,  and  kept  us  two  days  at  this  point.  There  is  a  tine  stock  range  here, 
affording  jiasiurage  for  several  hundred  head  of  catt'e.  I  wis  informed  by  tiie  propri- 
etor that  in  the  season  he  produced  as  much  as  125  pounds  of  butter  a  day,  thouo-h  at 
present  he  was  not  making  more  than  (10.  The  stock  is  generally  <lriven  out  about  Oc- 
tober 1.5  to  winter  in  the  Sacramento  Valley.  The  distance  from  Sawyer's  by  road  to 
Strawberry  is  12  miles;  by  trail  only  abiut  3i.  The  trail  is  passable  for  riding  ani- 
mals, but  dense  groves  of  small  trees  make  it  impracticable  for  heavily-laden  pack- 
nuiies.  Locating  the  next  main  camp  at  Yank's,  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Talioe,  and  on  the  west  side  of  Lake  Valley,  surveys  were  made  of  Fallen  L  af  and 
Cascade  Lakes,  and  Tallac  Peak  oecu[)ied  for  topographical  and  triangulaiiou  jjur- 
poses.  This  peak  is  a  most  interesting  one,  not  only  on  account  of  its  own  beauty  as 
seen  from  the  lake,  but  because  of  the  beautiful  view  from  its  summit.  Situa'ed  only 
about  3  miles  from  the  lake  in  a  straight  line,  and  fully  3.500  feet  above  it,  the  bird's- 
eye  view  obtained  is  simply  perfect.  The  Hot  Springs  H  .tel,  at  the  northern  end  of 
the  lake,  was  clearlj'  visible,  as  well  as  the  houses  of  the  settlements  on  the  south 
shore.  The  little  steamer,  a  white  speck  upon  the  blue  expanse,  was  seeu  making  its 
daily  rounds. 

Fallen  Leaf  and  Cascade  Lakes,  and  many  others  of  less  size  embowered  in  trees,  lay 
beneath  our  feet.  To  the  sonthwe-t  Pyramid  Pjak  years  its  rugged  crest,  embracing 
between  itself  aud  Tallac  a  deep  rocky  depression,  dotted  with  numerous  pools,  and 
known  as  the  •'  Devil's  Basin." 

Fallen  Leaf  Lake  (118  feet  above  Talioe)  is  easily  acces-ible  from  Yank's  by  a  wagon- 
road  which  leaves  the  head  of  the  lake  at  Gilhnore's  Ranch,  and  passes  on  several  miles 
farther  to^a  fine  soda  spring ;  from  there  on  a  trail  leads  nearly  to  the  summit  of  Tallac. 
A  herd  of  several  hundred  Angora  goats  liud  subsistence  on  the  sloj)  !S  of  the  mountains 
south  of  GiUmore's  Ranch. 

Cascade  Lake  (330  feet  above  Tahoe)  is  oval  in  sbane,  and  about  a  mile  long,  deriving 
its  name  from  a  tine  water-fall  some  250  feet  high  at  its  head.  For  interesting  facts 
relating  to  the  glacial  origin  of  these  lakes  1  refer  to  the  report  of  Mr.  Conkling. 

On  the  17th  of  October  we  lefo  Lake  Valley  and  proceeded  on  our  way  around  the 
lake.  lu  the  neighborhood  of  Emerald  Bay  the  trail  is  exceedingly  steep  and  ditiijult, 
and  some  trouble  was  experienced  from  several  of  the  pack-auim  ds  rolling  down  the 
steep  slopes.  After  leaving  here,  however,  no  difficulty  was  met  with.  The  bay  is  about 
two  miles  long  by  three-fourths  of  a  mile  broad,  narj-owing  down  at  the  entrance  to  a 
quarter  of  a  mile.  At  its  exiremity  is  the  suuimer  residence  of  Mr.  Hen.  H(dladay,  jr., 
which  is  entirely  concealed  in  a  grove  ot  aspen  and  willow.  A  more  charming  retire- 
ment it  would  be  hard  to  find. 

From  the  north  point  of  the  bay  to  Rubicon  Point  the  shore  is  steep  and  rocky,  but 
the  trail  from  "there  to  McKi  mey's  is  excellent.  Before  reaching  McKinney's  the  trail 
crosses  a  bold  projection  known  as  Sugar  Pine  Pi)iut,  from  the  fine  trees  of  that  name 
growing  there.  A  large  liimber-camp  located  here  atfor<led  a  good  opijortunity  of  wit- 
nes>iu4  the  mode  of  lumbering  generally  iu  vogue  on  the  lake.  Th^^  trees  are  sawed 
instead  of  cut  down  aud  converted  into  saw-logs  as  they  lie.  These  lo^^s  vary  from  20 
to  60  inches  in  diameter,  the  length  varying  to  suit  purchasers,  generally  between  20 
and  30  feet.  Perhaps  the  most  interesting  feature  is  the  great  w  igons  on  which  tbe 
logs  are  hauled  to  the  lake.  These  are  made  imniensely  strong,  the  wheels  being  con- 
structed of  a  section  cut  from  a  saw-log,  and  are  from  3  to  3^  feet  iu  diameter,  l)eing 
about  G  inches  broad  at  the  tire,  and  bulging  out  at  the  center.  The  heavy  cross-beams  on 
tho  wagon-body  are  furuished  with  iron  stirrups  of  peculiar  construction,  iu  which  rest 

81  E 


1282        EEPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

the  ends  of  heavy  planks  used  in  loading.  The  wagons  are  drawn  by  six  or  eight  yoke 
of  oxen.  To  pjive  an  idea  of  what  can  he  done  by  tliese  wagons  it  is  a  matter  of  record 
that  14,900  odd  feet  of  luinber  in  the  shape  of  saw-logis  has  been  placed  upon  one  of 
item.  This  was  popularly  known  as  the  "'  boss  load,"  and  photographs  of  it  can  be 
obtained  at  Trnckee. 

We  took  advantage  of  the  lumber-camp  smithy  to  have  our  mules  shod,  many  oi 
them  being  badly  in  need  of  it,  and  while  waiting  occupied  several  topographical  sta- 
tions in  the  western  summit.  x 

A  good  trail,  opened  some  years  ago  by  Mr.  McKinney,  runs  from  here  to  George- 
town, crossing  a  branch  of  the  Middle  Fork  of  the  American  some  eighr.  miles  from 
McKiuuey's,  and  called  by  him  the  Rubicon.  From  here  we  moved  up  the  valley  of 
Blackwood  Creek,  containing  abundance  of  fine  feed,  and  camped  near  Twin  Peaks.  The 
weather  being  excellent,  a  day  sufficed  for  our  work  fere.  To  the  north  we  saw  several 
fine  points,  (among  them  the  Needle  and  Granite  Chief, )  which  we  intended  to  occupy, 
Though  our  hopes  of  ibis  were  somewhat  dashed  l)y  Mr.  McKinney's  statement  that  he 
looked  for  snow  every  day,  and  that  the  probabilities  were  that  in  a  short  time  the 
hitrber  peaks  would  be  impassalde. 

Meandering  the  lake-shore  as  far  as  Tahoe  City,  we  moved  thence  down  the  Truckeo 
and  eucami)ed  Octoher  2(»  at  the  head  of  Squaw  Valley,  which  drains  into  that  stream. 
This  valley  is  well  watered,  and  i)roduces  abundance  of  tine  hay.  A  cattle-ranch  is 
located  here,  and  we  found  the  ranchmen  busily  engaged  in  collecting  their  stock  pre- 
vious to  driving  them  out  for  the  winter.  They  informed  us  that  a  trail  led  out  of 
the  valley  to  the  west,  passing  near  the  peaks  we  M'ished  to  occupy,  wbile  a  se^'ond 
trail  constructed  by  them  during  the  sununer  permitted  egress  to  the  north.  Wishing 
to  ascertain  the  proximity  of  the  peaks,  I  ascended  a  higher  i)oint  at  the  summit  of 
the  pass,  called  Fort  Sumter  from  its  iieculiar  outline,  but  a  heavy  mist  completely 
shut  out  the  view. 

The  27th  was  stormy  and  rainy,  and  during  the  night  about  4  inches  of  snow  fell, 
which  continued  all  the  next  day.  The  stock  was  driven  out  just  in  the  nick  of  time, 
as  the  meadows  were  now  covered  with  about  8  inches  of  snow.  Several  bales  of  hay 
left  by  the  ranchmen  afforded  feed  for  the  mules,  so  that  I  was  not  oblig.-d  To  move  out 
at  once,  which  I  was  unwilling  to  do,  as  this  would  be  our  last  chance  to  work  up  the 
topography  of  this  portion  of  the  range. 

The  30th,  breaking  bright  and  clear,  afforded  an  opportunity  of  making  a  final 
attempt  at  the  "Needle,"  or,  should  this  prove  impracticable,  at  least  of  making  a 
topographical  station  on  the  high  point  near  the  summit  of  the  pass.  We  found  the 
snow  deeper  than  we  expected,  but  liua'ly  made  the  point  only  to  find,  however,  that 
the  mists,  which  had  been  gathering  during  the  ascent,  completely  enveloped  the  higher 
peaks,  and  in  a  few  moments  our  own,  giving  us  just  time  to  catch  a  tireting  glimpse 
of  the  Needle,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  northwest,  "pointing  its  lean  finger  to  the 
sky"  as  if  in  mockery  at  our  eftbrts. 

On  this  trip  I  obtained  for  the  first  time  occular  evidence  that  there  are  deer  in  these 
mountains  by  a  well-marke<l  trail  in  the  snow.  From  this  it  was  evident  that  the  ani- 
mal, driven  from  the  mountains  by  the  snow,  had  taken  a  hasty  survey  of  the  valley, 
then  turned  in  its  tracks  and  made  a  rapid  exit.  I  decided  to  follow  its  examj)le,  and  on 
November  1,  after  having  meandered  Bear  Creek,  which  we  had  passed  a  few  days  before, 
left  the  valley  in  a  snow-storm.  Soon  after  reaching  the  Truckee  and  Tahoe  turnpike 
the  snow  ceased,  allowing  the  road  and  river  to  be  meandered  as  far  as  Truckee  on  the 
Central  Pacific  Raih'oad.  Learning  that  Lieutenant  Tillman  was  encamped  only 
about  4  miles  from  here,  on  Prosser  Creek,  I  moved  on  there  to  consult  him  concerning 
the  connection  of  our  triangulation.  Finding  that  he  and  his  topographer  were  absent 
jOU  a  trip  to  Castle  Peak,  we  proceecjed  to  work  up  the  topography  north  of  Lake  Tahoe, 
camping  in  Martis  Valle.y.  From  here  we  attemyjted  the  asceot  of  Mount  Rose,  but 
found  it  impratiticable  from  the  west.  Camp  was  then  moved  to  Hot  Springs,  near  the 
extremity  of  the  promontory  known  as  State  Line  Point.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
interesting  places  on  the  lake,  and  the  view  is  exceedingly  beautiful,  especially  at  this 
season,  when  the  mountain  peaks,  capped  with  snow,  contrast  strongly  with  the  dark 
j)ine  forests  clothing  their  rugged  sides.  For  the  accommodation  of  tourists,  a  hotel 
and  a  number  of  small  cottages  have  been  erected,  the  water  of  the  springs  being 
utilized  for  bathing  purposes.  The  proprietor  received  us  v^  ith  true  Californian  hos- 
pitality, tendering  us  free  use  of  the  cottages  and  baths,  which  kindness  we  were  glad 
to  take  advantage  of.  While  here  the  survey  of  the  lake  was  completed,  and  connec- 
tion made  with  the  monuments  of  the  California  and  Nevada  State  line.  Lieutenant 
Tillman  visited  us  at  this  camp,  and  obtained  information  with  reference  to  points 
occupied  by  us  to  the  southward.  Learning  of  our  failure  to  reach  Mount  Rose  from 
the  west,  he  determined  to  attempt  the  ascent  from  the  north.  Of  the  success  of  this 
attempt  we  had  the  unexpected  pleasure  of  being  eye-witnesses.  While  occupying  a 
high  point  north  of  the  lake  and  some  7  or  8  uiiles  southwest  of  Rose  we  werede.lighted 
to  observe,  through  the  telescope  of  our  instrument,  Lieutenant  Tillman  at  work.  The 
Jiext  day  we  passed  over  the  eastern  summit,  connecting  with  the  work   previously 


APPENDIX    NN.  1283 

«Iono,  and  camped  at  Fianlitown,  in  Waslioo  Valley.  Novoiuber  9,  we  readied  the  ren- 
(k'zvoiis-cauipat,  Carsou,  wbeie  Messrs.  IIensba\vaiiJ  Coukliug  were  detached  from  the 
)>arty  under  orders  received  fron  you  early  iu  the  season.  We  thea  passed  up  the 
Carson  Valley  as  far  as  Geaoa  Hot  8pritiifs,  connecting  with  work  previously  done. 
Upon  the  completion  of  this  we  proceeded  to  occupy  a  peak  iu  the  range  of  mountains 
east  of  Carson  Valley,  .and  known  to  us  as  Mount  Com'>.  This  is  a  high  point  almost 
due  south  of  the  peak,  in  the  same  range  occupied  by  Lieutenant  Biruie's  party  early 
iu  the  season  undej;  the  name  of  Mount  Lyons, 

On  the  way  to  our  peak  a  meander  was  obtained  of  Eldorado  Canon,  the  general 
course  of  which  isnearly  north  and  south,  its  mouth  being  near  Dayton  on  the  Carsou 
River.  Soft  gray  limestone  occurs  near  the  entrance  quite  plentifully,  and  is  burned 
in  a  lime-kiln  at  this  point.  A  good  toll-road  runs  up  this  canon,  and  a  small  stream 
meanders  its  way  through  it,  crossing  the  road  at  frequent  intervals.  The  slopes  on 
either  side  are  bare  of  vegetation,  except  now  and  thcL  a  litthi  sage  or  a  scrubby  pine. 
The  lack  of  vegetation  allows  one  to  see  easily  the  fantastic  shapes  into  which  the  ele- 
ments have  carved  the  rock.y  si<les,  but  the  heat  in  summer  must  be  very  great.  Near 
the  bead  of  this  canon  is  situated  the  Virginia  City  Company's  coal-mine,  the  product 
beiug  a  lignite  of  fair  quality.  Proceeding  onward  some  3  miles  from  the  mine  wo 
camped  near  the  base  of  what  is  locally  named  Mineral  Hill,  where  lie  the  springs  in 
which  Eldorado  Creek  rises.  This  hill  stands  up  well  when  viewed  from  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Virginia  City,  and  was  observed,  I  believe,  by  the  party  there  under  the 
name  of  Como.  The  point  known  to  us  under  this  name,  however,  lies  some  four  miles 
o  the  southeast,  and  is  considerably  higher,  being  in  the  main  range,  which  ruus  nearly 
tnorth  and  south,  and  is  called  in  the  ueighborbood  the  "Como  Range,"  after  an  aban- 
doned mining-town  of  that  name  near  M  Mint  Lyons.  It  has  also  been  fretpiently  called 
the  Pine  Nut  Range,  after  the  timber  of  that  name,  which  was  ouce  quite  plentiful,  but 
which  has  now  been  almost  entirely  cut  otf  for  fuel. 

About  28  miles  in  length,  it  breaks  down  on  the  north  into  the  v.alley  of  the  Carsoa 
River,  which  sweeps  round  that  end,  and  on  the  south  into  that  of  the  West  Walker. 
About  4  miles  north  of  us  the  ridge  sends  out  a  spur  to  the  eastward,  which  drains  to 
the  Dortli  into  the  Carsou,  and  on  the  south  iuto  the  West  Walker.  Just  to  the  east 
lies  a  barren,  sandy  valley  containing  a  small  alkaline  flat.  To  the  east  of  this  is  a 
jange  of  low,  saudy  hills,  beyond  which  lies  Mason's  Valley,  through  which  flows  the 
main  stream  of  the  Walker  River.  The  eastern  slope  is  quite  steep,  while  the  western 
falls  gradually  off  to  the  Carson  Valley,  beiug  broken  up  iuto  valleys  and  canons  by 
minor  ranges  and  foot-hills.  Mineral  Hill  is  high  enough  to  hide  the  Carsou  Valley  to 
the  northeast,  but  it  is  visible  for  nearly  its  whole  length  south  of  Geuoa. 

Finishing  our  work  here  we  I'eturued  to  Carson  by  way  of  the  Brunswick  Canon, 
through  which  runs  a  fair  wagon-road,  which  crosses  the  canon  by  a  bridge  at  the 
Brunswick  Mill,  where  there  is  a  toll-house. 

Leaving  Carson  again,  the  quartz-mills  along  the  river  between  Empire  and  Dayton 
were  located;  then  passing  through  Virginia  City  the  survey  of  the  Geiger  Grade,  lead- 
ing thence  into  Steamboat  Valley,  was  taken  up  where  the  work  of  Lieutenant  Symous's 
party  ceased,  and  camp  was  made  at  Steamboat  Springs,  on  the  Virginia  and  Truckee 
Railroad.  These  springs  are  among  the  most  interesting  in  the  State,  and  have  been 
known  for  many  years.  Clonus  of  vapor  continually  rising  make  them  conspicuous 
for  several  miles.  From  the  name  one  might  be  led  to  expect  that  the  emission  of  this 
vapor  would  be  accompanied  by  a  sound  like  that  made  by  the  exhaust-steam  of  a 
western  river  steamer,  but  I  noticed  nothing  of  the  sort.  The  rocky  mound  iu  which 
the  springs  lie  is  situated  at  the  base  of  a  spur  of  Mount  Rose.  Numerous  small  pools 
are  found  on  the  summit  of  this  mound,  the  temperature  of  the  water  varying  from 
blood-heat  to  almost  boiling.  Besides  the  pools,  long  irregular  fissures  occur  from  a 
few  inches  to  a  foot  in  width,  and  extending  to  a  considerable  depth.  In  these  the 
water  can  be  seen  boiling  ;iud  bubbling  violently,  sometimes  disappearing  entirely, 
then  rising  to  view  again.  Iu  some  of  the  pools  I  noticed  a  white  deposit  like  that 
frequently  seen  in  sulphur  si)rings.  The  water  when  cool  is  perfectly  drinkable,  and 
is  not  so  impreguated  with  ujiuerals  as  to  prevent  the  use  of  soap  iu  washing.  A  hotel 
has  been  erected  here  itud  has  connected  with  it  a  commodious  bath-hous.-",  which  is 
built  directly  over  some  of  the  fissures  above  referred  to.  The  springs  are  easy  of  ac- 
cess, being  by  rail  onl^'  11  miles  from  Reno  on  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  and  about 
20  from  Caason.  They  are  considerably  resorted  to  during  the  summer  on  account  of 
the  medicinal  properties  of  their  waters.  Steamboat  Creek  flows  a  t'aw  hundred  feet 
east  of  the  springs  and  empties  iuto  the  Truckee.  Steamboat  Valley  contains  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  arable  and  grazing  land,  and  widens  out  on  the  north  into  the 
Truckee  meadows. 

Our  next  camp  was  at  Glendale,  a.  small  hamlet  on  the  Truckee,  and  formerly  a  sta- 
tion on  the  old  trauscontiuental  emigiaut-road.  Passing  from  here  up  the  east  side 
of  Steamboat  Valley  along  the  base  of  the  range  running  north  from  Blount  Davidson 
several  topographical  stations  were  made  on  the  ridge,  and  a  small  portion  of  the  shore 


1284  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

of  Washoe  Lake  meandered.    The  reudezvous-camp  -^as  reached  November  25th,  and 
the  party  disbanded. 

We  were  in  the  field  eighty  days,  dnring  which  time  we  traveled  in  all  1,024  n)ile8, 
of  which  654  were  meandered.  Seven  main  triangiilation  stations  were  occnpied,  and 
fourteen  secondary.  Eight  hundred  and  thirty-four  stations  were  made  on  meander 
line,  and  one  hundred  aud  two  three-point  stations  as  checks  or  for  the  location  of  im- 
portant points.  One  hundred  and  three  cistern-barometer  altitudes  were  observed  be- 
sides the  aneroid  determination  at  each  meander  station.  The  highest  point  reached 
"was  Freel's  Peak,  in  the  eastern  sumni't  of  the  Sierras,  10,862  feet  above  sea-level,  the 
lowest  4.222  feet,  on  the  Central  Pacific  Railroad. 

But  few  sextant  latitude  observations  were  needed  as  checks,  since  every  important 
point  could  be  located  by  triangnhition.  The  instrumental  outfit  of  the  party  was  the 
same  as  that  generally  allowed  and  needs  no  special  mention.  For  interesting  points 
concerning  the  natural  history  and  geology  of  the  area  visited,  I  beg  to  refer  to -the 
special  reports  of  Messrs.  Henshaw  and  Conkling. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

M.  M.  Macomb, 
Second  Lieutenant  Fourth  Ariilh-ry,  U.  S.  Army. 

Lieut.  Gko.  M.  Wheki.er, 

Corps  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


Appendix  G. 
preliminary  report  on  examination  at  the  comstock  lode,  by  john  a.  church. 

Virginia  City,  Nev.,  June  30,  1877. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  a  short  report  of  the  work  in  the  Washoe  mining 
district  during  the  month  of  .June,  1)^77,  \i  accordance  with  your  instructions.  Arriv- 
ing on  the  ground  on  the  11th  day  of  that  mouth,  it  was  obviously  impossible  to  do 
more  in  the  short  remainder  of  the  fiscal  year  than  to  place  and  enter  upon  the  prose- 
cution of  the  work. 

I  find  that  the  period  of  seven  or  eight  years  which  have  passed  since  the  last  ex- 
tended study  of  this  region  has  been  the  )>eriod  of  greatest  activity  aud  greatest  change 
the  Comstock  lode  has  ever  witnessed.  The  mines  have  beeu  opened  a  thousanfl  feet 
deeper  than  in  1869,  and  have  changed  from  a  vertical  to  an  inclined  system  of  work- 
ing, in  correspondence  with  the  change  in  the  dip  of  the  vein.  To  meet  this  altered 
condition  of  things  the  mines  have  all  established  a  separate  system  of  hoisting  for 
the  incline;  these  are  being  raised  to  the  head  of  the  incline  by  a  "giraffe"  aud  then 
dumped  to  a  car  which  is  run  upon  the  cage  and  hoisted  as  formerly  through  the  ver- 
tical shaft.  None  of  them  attempt  to  raise  the  ore  by  one  continuous  hoist  througii 
both  the  inclined  and  vertical  shafts.  Preparations  are  now  completed  in  one  shaft 
and  going  on  in  two  others  for  resuuung  the  extraction  through  vertical  shafts  by 
sinking  in  the  east  country-rock  of  distances  in  two  cases  of  more  than  half  a  mile  from 
the  outcrop  of  the  vein. 

Changes  quite  as  important  have  been  etfected  in  machinery.  The  geared  pumping- 
engines,  wnich  were  formerly  used  by  all  the  miues,  have  been  replaced  in  nnjst  of 
them  by  very  elaborate  and  expensive  direct-acting  compound  eagim  s,  controlled  by 
the  Davey  valve  gear,  which  has  beeu  somewhat  modified  in  this  region.  The  pumps 
are  all  of  the  Cornish  pattern  and  are  now  raising  water  from  depths  of  2,000  and 
2,300  feet.  Direct-acting  hoisting-engines  have  also  been  introdt  ced  at  one  shaft,  and 
the  speed  of  hoisting  increased  in  those  mines  which  are  extracting  great  quau'ities  of 
ore.  Self-dumping  skeets  have  taken  or  will  take  the  place  of  the  ordinary  cage  aud 
car  in  two  of  the  deep  shafts.  These  alterations  in  the  method  of  working  are  all  im- 
portant in  view  of  the  great  depths  to  which  these  miues  will  probiibly  be  carried. 
The  machinery  now  on  the  ground  is  sufficient  for  depths  of  3,000  feet,  and  the  method 
of  working  the  incline  and  vertical  shafts  separately  adapts  it  to  much  deeper  sinking. 

Underground  engines  are  used  in  considerable  numbers  for  pumping,  hoisting,  aud 
Ventilation,  and  as  these  are  all  worked  by  compressed  air,  the  mines  along  this  lode 
ofier  probably  the  most  extensive  series  of  air-compressing  engines  to  be  found  iu  any 
district.     Ihey  are  mainly  of  two  types,  the  Burleigh  and  a  modified  Waring. 

All  these  changes  have  produced  great  efiects  upon  the  mining  of  the  district  and  the 
financial  fortunes  of  the  owners.  As  now  instituted,  the  mining  industry  of  Washoe 
l)resenfs  important  opportunities  for  studying  the  effect  and  economy  of  modern  miu- 
lug-machineiy. 

Ventilation  and  pumping  have  beaome  questions  of  especial  importauce.    The  heat 


APPENDIX   NN.  1285 

of  the  vein,  and  also  of  the  country-rock,  has  on  the  whole  increased,  or,  at  all  events, 
hiffh  temperatures  have  become  more  common  as  the  workings  gained  in  de  itli.  Ob- 
servations on  ttiis  jjoint  have  bcuMi  collected,  and  a  system  will  soon  be  instituted  wliich, 
it  is  hoped,  will  alibrd  valuable  information  upon  the  best  moans  of  overcoming  the 
heat  of  the  mines. 

The  deep  adit  called  the  Sntro  Tnnnel  has  penetrated  about  17,500  feet,  and  is  now 
about  2,750  feet  from  the  lode.  It  is  advancing  at  a  rate  of  speed  which  should  take  it 
to  the  vein  about  JLirch,  1878.  It  will,  however,  reach  tlie  line  of  the  deep  shafts  sunk 
in  the  east  country  rock  some  time  next  uionth.  Its  completion  cannot  fail  to  have 
importunt  results  upon  the  drainage  of  a  vein  that  is  liable  to  sudden  outbursts  of 
waer  in  great  quantities,  as  the  Comstock  is. 

The  milling  of  the  ores  has  undergone  some  alterations,  but  nothing  so  extensive  as 
those  above  indicated  in  the  mining.  The  latest-built  mills  are  models  of  convenient 
arrangement  and  economy.  On  the  whole,  the  ore  which  is  now  extracted  is  rielier 
than  any  which  has  been  obtaineil  since  the  earliest  period  of  mining  on  the  Comstock 
vein,  and  the  problem  of  milling  these  ores  with  as  high,  or  a  higher,  return  as  was 
formerly  obtained  from  less-rich  ores  has  been  successfully  gra))pled  with. 

I  have  thus  sketched,  in  a  very  general  way,  the  condition  of  the  field  to  which  I  am 
assigned.  Jly  w<jrk  so  far  has  consisted  in  preparing  for  the  observations  necessary  to 
a  study  of  the  ventilation  and  drainage  of  the  vein  and  the  position  of  the  ore-bodies 
found  below  the  l,0(JO-foot  levels. 

I  have  great  ])leasnre  in  acknowledging  the  courtesy  and  frankness  with  which  every 
one  connected  with  the  mines  has  received  me.     No  restraint  has  been  placed  upon 
investigation,  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  survey  can  count  upon  the  active  co-operation 
of  the  mining  companies,  even  at  some  trouble  and  cost  to  themselves. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  yours, 

John  A.  Church, 

^inhig  Eiujineer. 

Lieut.  Geo.  M.  WnKEi.ER, 

Corj)s  of  Engineers,  in  charge.  • 


Appexdix  H. 


GEOLOGICAL  REPORT  ON  THE  PORTIONS  OP  WESTERN  NEVADA  AND  EASTERN  CALIFOR- 
NIA BETWEEN  THE  PARALLELS  OF  39^  30'  AND  33"  30',  EXPLORED  IN  THE  FIELD- 
SEASON   OF    187(3,   BY    MR.   A.    U.    CONKLIXG. 

New  York  City,  Jpiil  16,  1877. 

Sir:  The  area  examined  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  a  line  drawn  through  Truckee, 
Cal.,  and  Washoe  City,  Nev. ;  on  the  east  by  the  Mount  Davidson  Range  and  the  Como 
Mountains;  on  the  south  by  Job's  Peak  and  Pyramid  Peak;  and  on  the  west  bj^  the 
Western  Summit  and  the  Truckee  River. 

Nearly  all  of  this  region  is  covered  by  granite,  with  occasional  outbursts  of  basaltic 
rocks.  No  fossils  are  found  except  at  the  State  prison  quarries,  one  mile  east  of  Car- 
son City.  There  is  abundant  evidence  of  the  former  existence  of  glaciers  in  the  mount- 
ains bordering  Lake  Tahoe.  Thernial  and  mineral  springs  occur  in  several  localities. 
A  few  ore-de)>osits  are  found  within  the  area  explored  in  l-<7t>,  but  onlj'  one  of  them 
possesses  sufficient  importance  to  deserve  more  than  a  passing  notice. 

Two  ridges,  running  north  and  south,  traverse  this  section  of  country.  They  are 
termed  the  eastern  and  western  snujinit-".  Lake  Tahoe  separates  the  one  from  the 
other.  The  latter  range  is  more  broken  up  by  precipitous  canons  and  minor  ridges  than 
the  former.  Both  the  summits  are  sparingly  wooded,  from  the  base  to  the  crest-line,  and 
may  be  regarded  as  parallel  lines  of  elevation. 

Having  given  an  account  of  the  general  features  of  the  area  explored  in  1876,  I  now 
propose  to  take  up  the  geology  in  the  following  order  : 

1.  Dpseription  of  the  Carson  Valley  and  vicinity. 

'2.  Sketch  of  Lake  Tahoe. 

8.  The  eastern  summit. 

4.  The  western  summit. 

THE   CARSON   VALLEY. 

There  are  several  therri^al  springs  in  the  Carson  Valley  within  a  radius  of  about 
fifteen  miles  of  the  capital  of  Nevada.  The  most  important  spring  rises  in  yellowish 
sandstone  about  a  mile  ea-^t  of  Caison.  The  temperature  of  the  water  is  111  degii  es 
F.  A  bath-honse  has  been  erected  at  the  springs  adjoining  the  State  prison.  Another 
hot  si)riug  occurs  in  mica  slate  2i  miles  northeast  of  Carson.  The  water  is  clear  and 
has  a  temperature  of  120  degrees  F.     There  are  several  wells  about  10  inches  deep  iu 


1286  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

the  ground  filled  with  this  thermal  water.  Both  these  springs  contain  snlphereted 
hydrogen,  a  gas  generally  evolved  in  the  fissures  of  rock  in  a  volcanic  region.  At  Genoa, 
14  milts  south  of  Carson,  and  near  Frauktown,  10  miles  north  of  the  same  place,  warm 
springs  occur.  Both  houses  and  hotels  have  been  built  at  both  these  localities.  I  was 
unable  to  learn  the  (emperature  of  either  of  these  thermal  waters.  I  colh^cted  quart 
bottles  full  of  water  from  the  above  springs  for  analysis,  but  upon  reaching  Washington 
it  was  found  that  either  the  cold  weather  or  careless  treatment  in  transportation  had 
resulted  in  the  breakage  of  the  bottles  and  consequent  loss  of  contents. 

The  greater  part  of  the  Catson  Valley  belongs  to  the  Quaternary,  and  there  is  very 
little  rock  in  situ,  excepting  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley,  where  a  few  minor 
ridges  and  buttes  of  basalt  occur.  The  line  of  upheaval  in  these  ridges  is  north  and 
south.  Beginning  on  the  north,  we  have  a  low  range  of  gray  granite,  which  contains 
iininerons  crystals  of  black  hornblende,  and  separates  Washoe  Valley  from  the  Car- 
son Valley.  Rocky  tors  of  granite  outcrop  in  various  places  on  this  divide.  The 
North  Carson  Mine  occurs  in  this  ridge,  but  for  a  description  of  it  see  chapter  on 
mines.  At  Swift's  Spring,  -2^  miles  northeast  of  Carson,  a  ledge  of  gray  mica  slate  out- 
crops. This  is  the  only  locality  in  tlie  valley  where  a  metamorphic  rock  is  found.  J 
did  not  find  the  continuation  of  the  mica-slate  beds.  Olivine  incrusts  a  low  ridge  of 
diorite  about  50  feet  high  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  long  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Car- 
son Valley.  A  mass  of  granular  yellow  sandstone  about  30  feet  thick  outcrops  at  a 
point  a  mile  east  of  Carson.  This  sandfetone  is  underlaid  by  clay,  and  apparently  does 
not  cover  more  than  an  acre.  Invertebrate  fossils  are  common  in  the  rock,  particularly 
the  genus  Uuio,  which  is  oftentimes  stained  by  the  oxide  of  iron.  Vertebrate  remains 
have  also  been  found,  but  I  was  unable  to  obtain  any.  Black  mica  is  sparingly  dissem- 
inated through  the  sandstone.  The  rock  is  extensively  quarried  by  the  inmates  of  the 
State  prison,  and  is  much  used  for  building  purposes.  The  State-house  and  railway 
shops  of  the  Virginia  and  Truckee  Railroad  are  constructed  of  this  sandstone.  Buttes 
of  gray  basalt,  with  a  porphyritic  texture,  are  found  a  short  distance  east  and  south- 
east of  the  State  prison.  The  Como  Mountains  form  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  Car- 
s(m  Valley.  They  are  composed  of  trlchyte-porphyry.  The  height  of  this  range  is 
about  8,500  feet. 

A  bed  of  soft  gray  limestone,  having  a  compact  texture,  occurs  near  Dayton,  and  a 
bed  of  blue  limestone  is  found  near  the  stage- road  about  half-way  between  Carson  City 
acd  Clear  Creek.  This  rock  is  burned  in  kilns  at  both  localities,  but  I  was  unable  to 
examine  either  of  the  deposits  of  limestone,  and  hence  cannot  state  the  thickness  or 
dip  of  the  strata. 

A  bed  of  lignite  occurs  about  8  miles  due  east  of  the  Carson  Valley.  It  lies  in  the 
El  Dorado  Canon,  on  the  line  of  Ormsby  and  Lyon  Counties.  The  locality  is  known 
as  the  Virginia  City  Company's  Coal-mine.  A  good  wagon-road  from  Dayton  renders 
the  mine  easy  of  access. 

This  lignite  was  discovered  by  English  miners  soon  after  the  finding  of  the  Comstock 
Lode.  Prior  to  1865,  9,800  tons  of  brown  coal  were  exported  from  the  mine,  and  under  the 
incorporation  of  1872,  21,600  tons  were  taken  out,  making  a  total  of  31,400  tons  since 
the  formal  opening  of  the  mine.  After  1863  the  Virginia  City  Company  suspended  work 
for  about  eight  years.  Out  of  the  31,400  tons  which  the  mine  has  yielded,  13,800  tons 
have  been  burned  in  Storey  County,-and  the  balance  at  the  company's  hoisting- works. 
The  amount  of  money  expended  since  the  re-incorporation  of  1872  is  ^110,000,  and 
previous  to  that  time  about  the  same  sum,  making  in  round  numbers  the  total  cost  of 
Avorking  the  mine  !J220,000.  1  visited  this  deposit  of  lignite  in  the  El  Dorado  Cafion 
on  November  yO,  1876,  in  company  with  Prof.  W.  F.  Stewart  and  Mr.  R.  M.  Daggett, 
the  superintendent  of  the  company.  The  object  of  our  visit  was  to  select  a  spot  for 
the  sinking  of  a  new  shaft.  After  some  consultation  a  locality  was  decided  upon  about 
1,200  feet  southwest  of  the  present  hoisting-works.  Professor  Stewart  has  described 
the  lignite  beds  in  detail,  and  I  condense  from  his  report  the  following :  "  Tlie  coal  in- 
dications in  Western  Nevada  generally  appear  in  the  Tertiary.  There  is  reason  to 
believe  that  the  El  Dorado  lignite  belongs  to  this  age.  Tne  mine  lies  near  the  head 
of  the  c^uon.  There  are  two  shafts,  called  respectively  the  Virginia  and  Newcastle. 
The  former  shaft  is  420  feet  deep,  and  is  the  one  most  used,  as  the  hoisting- works  are 
at  the  mouth  of  it,  while  the  latter  one  is  but  85  feet  deep  and  is  now  full  of  water. 
For  about  300  feet  from  the  surface  the  formation  consists  of  alternating  layers  of  marl, 
soft,  gray  sandstones,  shales,  tire-clay,  carbonized  vegetable  matter,  and  beds  of  weath- 
ered lignite.  Below  this  is  pudding-stone  or  bowhler  clay.  There  are  three  veins  of 
lignite,  which  are,  counting  from  the  surface,  respectively  16  feet,  15  feet,  and  6  to  8 
feet  in  thickness.  Bowlders  and  volcanic  ashes  occnr  between  the  veins.  Pyrite  is 
found  with  the  lignite  in  the  form  of  cubes.  In  making  a'secfion  a^'ross  the  lignite 
beds  from  southeast  to  northwest  we  have  fir^t  granite,  then  the  miscellaneous  forma- 
tion containing  the  veins  of  lignite,  then  a  dike  of  basalt,  next  sedimentary  strata  re- 
ferred to  the  Tertiary,  and  liually  an  extensive  mas.^  of  trachyte,  which  covers  the 
country  for  several  miles," 


APPENDIX   NN.  1287 

SKKTCII    OF   LAKE   TAIIOE. 

Lake  Tahoe  lies  iu  tlieheiirtof  the  Siona  Nevada,  at  an  elevation  of  6,202  f-^et  above 
tlio  sea-level.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  fresh-water  hikes  in  the  West,  and,  uidike  many 
other  sheets  of  water,  contains  no  islands.  Lake  Tahoe  is  inelosed  by  twopaiallel 
ranges  of  grayish  granite,  called  respectively  the  Eastern  and  Western  Snminits. 

Lake  Tahoe  is  21  miles  long  and  12  miles  in  the  widest  part.  The  lireadtli,  however, 
varies  greatly,  the  southern  portion  being  mncli  narrower  than  the  northern.  The 
shore-line  is  very  diversified.  Tbe  numerous  l>ays,  rocky  promontories,  bold  luiadlands, 
estuaries,  and  beaches,  oftentimes  covered  with  pebbles,  remind  one  of  a  miniature 
ocean.  Hot  springs  are  found  on  the  north  side  of  Lake  Tahoe,  near  Campbell's  hotel. 
They  rise  in  granite.  Stan<ling  on  the  dock  in  front  of  the  hotel,  the  observer  may  see 
bubbles  of  gas  iu  several  jdaces  rising  iu  the  clear  water  of  the  lake.  One  spring  is  in- 
closed by  a  brick  wall  about  '^  by  4  i'Mit.  The  temperature  of  the  water  iu  this  spring 
is  1:52^  F.  A  bath-house  has  been  built  near  the  hotel  directly  over  another  spring, 
having  a  temperature  of  12d^  F.     The  spring-water  contains  sulphydric  acid. 

Lake  Tahoe  is  remarkable  for  its  great  depth.  It  is  probably  the  deepest  lake  in  the 
United  States.  Tliere  are  only  two  lakes  iu  Europe  that  are  deeper  than  Tahoe,  viz  : 
Lugo  M  iggiore  and  Ligo  di  Como,  iu  Italy.  The  shallow  water  has  an  emerald-greeu 
color,  which  is  more  frequently  observed  on  the  southern  and  southeastern  portions 
of  the  lake  than  elsewhere.  The  width  of  the  emerald-green  zone  varies  greatly.  In 
some  places  this  zone  is  nearly  half  a  mile  broad,  especially  iu  the  shallow  water  of  the 
southern  part  of  the  lake.  Where  the  bottom  slopes  rapidly  the  emerald-green  water 
extends  only  100  to  loO  feet  from  the  shore-line.  The  deei)  water  is  of  elegant  ultra- 
marine-blue color.  The  transparency  of  the  water  is  wonderful.  According  to  experi- 
ments made  by  Prof.  John  Le  Conte,  a  white  object  can  be  seen  at  a  depth  of  115  feet. 
The  depth  of  the  water  at  the  line  of  junction  of  tlie  ultramarine-blue  and  emerald- 
green  colors  is  at  least  100  feet.  The  temperature  of  Lake  Tahoe,  taken  on  the  uortli 
shore  in  November,  is  50^  F.  This  lake  does  not  freeze  in  winter,  and  I  am  iuclined  to 
believe  that  there  is  but  little  variation  of  temperature,  if  any,  throughout  the  year. 
The  temperature  of  the  deep  Alpine  lakes  is  39'  .2  F.  at  all  seasons  of  tlie  year.  People 
living  on  the  borders  of  the  lake  rarely  bathe  iu  it,  even  iu  midsummer. 

Soundings  were  made  iu  Lake  Tahoe  iu  November,  1875,  by-Messrs.  John  McKinney 
and  Thomas  Jackson,  two  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  this  section  of  California.  The  ap- 
jiaratus  used  belonged  to  the  Coast  Survey,  and  was  forwarded  from  Oaklaud,  by  Prof. 
Joseph  Le  Conte.  It  consists  of  a  hexagonally-sliaped  plumb  attached  to  a  mpe  about, 
one-quarter  inch  in  dia  ietei\  Rhombio  pieces  of  brass  are  fastened  to  the  rope  at  in- 
tervals of  100  feet.  There  is  a  bit  of  leather  half-way  between  the  pieces  of  brass,  and. 
the  space  between  each  bit  of  leather  and  brass  is  divided  equally  by  a  scrap  of  red 
cloth.  By  means  of  this  apparatus  many  soundings  were  taken  along  the  State  line, 
which  runs  through  the  middle  of  the  lake,  and  iu  the  wesrern  part  of  this  body  of 
water  from  Emerald  Bay  to  Observatory  Point.  The  sounding-line  was  not  used  at 
any  place  east  of  the  State  line.  Supposing  the  reader  to  be  familiar  with  the  outline 
of  Lake  Tahoe,  and  beginning  at  the  southern  end,  the  first  sounding  is  900  feet  near 
the  point  where  the  State  line  trends  to  the  southeast.  Going  northwards  the  depth 
increases  steadily.  Soundings  taken  at  five  localities  indicate  a  depth  respectively  of 
1,385  feet,  1,495  feet,  1,524  feet,  1,600  feet,  and  1,645  feet.  The  average  depth  of  the 
lake  measured  along  the  State  line,  for  10  miles  due  north  aud  south,  is  from  1,200  to 
1,410  feet.  Commeucing  on  the  western  shore  of  the  lake,  near  Emerald  Bay,  the  first 
Bounding  is  750  feet.  At  Rubicon  Point,  4  miles  further  north,  the  depth  is  850  feet 
near  the  shore.  This  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  face  of  this  rocky  headland  sjants 
quite  abruptly.  At  Meigs's  Bay  the  depth  is  750  feet,  at  McCounell's  it  is  700  feet,  and 
Barton's  Mills  it  is  330  feet.  A  short  distance  eastward  of  the  two  latter  places  the 
lake  deepens  rapidly.  Midway  between  the  State  line  aud  the  shore  at  McConnell's, 
the  sounding  taken  was  1,506  feet,  aud  at  a  point  a  few  miles  north,,  opposite  Barton's 
Mills,  the  sounding-line  marked  1,540  feet.  Keeping  tolerably  near  the  shore  we  have 
772  feet  as  the  next.souuding  north  of  Barton's  Mill.  The  last  observations  to  be  men- 
tioned were  taken  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  lake.  In  front  of  Tahoe  City,  the 
depth  was  found  to  be  312  feet;  a  little  further  east  the  sounding-line  indicattd  1,350 
feet,  and  still  further  near  the  State  line  it  is  marked  1,504  feet.  In  general  it  may  bo 
said  that  while  the  depth  increases  in  the  middle  of  the  lake  in  going  from  south  to 
north,  it  dtrcreases  iu  the  sitme  direction  in  the  western  portion.  In  some  places  the 
sediment  at  the  bottom  adhered  to  the  phnnb,  and  the  sp-^cimens  thus  brought  up  en- 
able ns  to  form  some  idea  of  the  lake-bed.  Near  Emerald  Bay  mica  was  found  iu  the 
soundings  in  considerable  quantities,  evidently  derived  from  the  disintegration  of  the 
granitic  rocks  bordering  the  lake.  But  the  most  interesting  sediment  was  obtained  at 
a  point  near  the  deepest  part  of  the  lake,  3i  miles  southeast  of  the  Warm  Si)rings,  and 
about  31  miles  northeast  of  Observatory  Point.  I  have  examined  this  sediment  with 
the  microscope  and  find  that  it  contains  many  species  of  Diatoms.  Not  being  very 
familiar  with  the  protophytes,  I  sent  some  of  the  sediment  to  Prof.  H.  L.  Smith,  of 


1288  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

Geneva,  N.  Y.,  for  investigation.  A  few  days  afterwards  Professor  Smit^  informed  me 
tbat  lie  liad  identified  the  followinjij  species:  Ci/clottlla  operculala,  C.  vifnla,  Phmtila- 
ria  viridis,  Ntivicula  varians,  EpUhemia  iiirf/ida,  E.  sorex,  E-  arf/its,  E.  flibha,  E.  Jl'cster- 
manii,  Gomphon€ma,dkholo)iiuin,  G.  iemUnm,  G.  heiciilaiieum,  HimanHd'nim  iDidiilaiimi, 
Fragilaria  capucina,  Coccoiteis  placenfula,  Xavicnla  elliptici,  Cocconcma  lanceohilum  and 

varieties,  Muntogloia ,  Cymhella ,  Celosira  uudiilaUtm.     Afclobira  italica  is  the 

coiunionest  species.     The  sediment  consists  chiefly  of  it. 

Prof.  Joseph  Ls  Conte  has  examined  sediment  from  the  bottom  of  Lake  Tahoe.  He 
informs  me  that  a  few  Diatoms  are  fonnd  at  a  small  depth,  .while  the  sediment  at  great 
«lepths  consists  entirely  of  Diatoms  and  certain  organic  i)articles,  which  pnzzled  him 
for  a  long  time,  as  they  were  mnch  disintegrated.  Jr'iually  Professor  Le  Conte  recog- 
nized this  organic  matter  to  be  the  pollen  giains  of  conifers.  They  are  blown  over  the 
lake,  sink,  and  do  not  decompose  on  account  of  the  coldness  of  the  water.  In  closing 
the  chapter  on  Lake  Tahoe  I  cannot  do  better  than  make  a  brief  refenmce  to  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  lake  in  windy  weather.  During  storms  it  is  not  nncommou  to  see 
waves  2,  3,  and  sometimes  4  feet  in  height.  In  ordinary  weather  enfticient  motion  is 
imparted  to  a  row-boat  to  canse  sea-sickness.  Even  on  a  calm  day  there  is  a  gentle 
undulating  movement  of  the  water  along  the  lake-coast.  During  a  tresli  gale,  the 
waves  beat  against  the  shore  with  almost  as  mnch  noise  and  force  as  on  the  Atlantic 
coast.  The  shore-line  is  continually  shifting,  especially  on  the  southern  side  of  the 
lake,  where  a  sand-beach  occurs.  Scattered  along  the  coast  of  Lake  Tahoe  are  numer- 
ous pebbles,  which  are  wafted  by  the  waves  from  place  to  place  as  on  a  sea-beach. 

THE   EASTERN   SUMMIT. 

This  name  has  been  given  to  the  mountain-range  forming  the  eastern  boundary'  of 
l-iake  Tahoe,  and  extending  north  and  south  for  about  1-54  miles.  My  observations  were 
confined  to  the  portion  of  the  eastern  summit  lying  between  Mount  Rose  and  Job's 
Peaks.  The  ri(lg'--line  of  this  range  is  gently  undulating,  and  has  a  nearly  uniform 
height,  there  being  no  lofty  pinnacles  rising  iibove  it.  Tnere  are  but  few  precipitous 
gorges  in  the  eastern  summit,  and  the  canons  are  regular  in  form,  with  the  exce|)tiou 
of  Clear  Creek  Canon,  which  is  not  only  very  broad  and  winding,  but  nearly  traverses 
the  entire  range.  The  nntin  stage-road  to  Glenbrook  runs  through  the  bottom  f)f  Clear 
Creek  Canon,  and  the  western  part  of  the  road  from  Carson  City  through  Kinji's  Canon 
extends  along  tlie  northern  side  of  this  canon.  These  roa<ls  unite  at  the  summit  of 
the  pass,  7,18G  feet  high,  near  the  toll-gate.  From  this  point  a  hrqad  wag(Uj-road  is 
continued  down  the  western  slope  of  the  range  to  Glenbrook,  a  distance  of  '2^  nules. 
There  is  but  one  other  pass  that  is  traversed  by  a  wagon-road,  viz,  the  pass  between 
G.^noa  and  Kearney's  Station.  There  are  several  other  defiles  in  the  Eastern  Summit 
that  can  be  matle  practicable  for  wagons.  A  wagon-road  crosses  the  range  and 
desci^nds  on  the  western  slope  to  the  Virginia  tunnel.  There  is  a  road  running  to  the 
head  of  the  canon  due  south  of  Mount  Rose.  The  topographical  features  of  the 
c  )untry  woulil  not  prevent  the  prolongation  of  these  two  roads  across  the  range  to 
the  foot  of  the  western  side. 

The  western  slope  of  the  Eastern  Summit,  like  other  ranges  in  the  far  West,  is  much 
steeper  than  the  eastern  slope.  The  entire  range  is  densely  wooded,  although  the  tim- 
ber has  been  removed  on  the  eastern  side.  As  the  method  of  lumbering  practiced  here 
is  somewliat  peculiar,  a  description  of  it  may  be  of  interest.  On  account  of  the  large 
size  of  the  trees,  saws  are  used  instead  of  axes  in  felling  them.  After  a  tree  is  cut 
down,  it  is  sawe<l  into  sections  about  b  feet  long.  D.^ep  holes  are  bored  into  these  sec- 
tions with  a  long-shanked  auger,  into  which  jiowder  is  stored,  and  the  wood  is  blasted 
in  the  same  manner  as  rock.  There  is  no  arable  land  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Eastern  Summit,  except  iir  Clear  Creek  Canon,  where  a  few  vegetables  are  raised.  There 
aie  a  few  small  Alpine  lakes  on  the  summit  of  the  range.  Tins  Tvvni  Lakes  are  sarcely 
worthy  of  the  name,  being  only  400  l)y  200  feet  in  area.  Mailette  or  .silver  Lake  is 
about  half  a  square  mile  in  area.  This  lake  is  partly  artificial,  its  size  having  iieen 
increased  by  damming.  A  tunnel  about  8  by  (>  feet  in  cross-section  ru:  s  out  of  Mar- 
lette  Lake.  It  will  be  4,.'')00  feet  long  when  finished  and  has  a  southeasterly  direction. 
The  waters  will  be  conducted  from  the  east  end  of  the  tunnel  to  the  Carson  Valley  by 
a  flume.  The  water  in  the  streams  of  the  Eastern  Summit  is  cold  and  clear.  The 
creeks  running  down  the  eastern  slope  flow  through  the  Caison  Plain  and  empty  into 
the  Carson  River,  while  those  on  the  western  side  of  the  summit  empty  into  Lake 
Tahoe.  There  are  no  irrigatiug-ditches  in  the  Eastern  Summit,  but  the  waters  of 
several  streams  are  diverted  from  their  natural  course  and  conducted  through  flumes 
for  the  transp<  rtation  of  lumber.  The  princijjal  flumes  in  this  range  are  the  Clear 
Creek  Canon,  the  Fiauktown,  and  the  VVa-hoe  City. 

The  streams  in  the  Eastern  Summit  are  rapiil,  narrow,  and  easily  fordablo.  The  soil 
of  the  range  is  largely  composed  of  disintegrated  granite.  Numerous  sj>urs  diverge 
from  the  eastern  slo[)e  of  this  i-ange,  and  extend  in  some  cases  far  out  into  the  jjlain, 
appearing  like  buttresses.     There  are  no  spurs  on  the  western  slope,  unless  the  head- 


APPENDIX   NN.  1289 

lauds  and  points  pro.joctinp:  into  Lake  Talioe  are  considered  as  sncli.  A  general 
account  of  the  topofiiaphical  features  alonjr  the  eastern  border  of  Lake  Tahoe  may  be 
appropriately  givon  in  connection  with  the  Eastern  Snniinit.  l)ej:inniii<i-  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  hike  we  have  the  seniicircnlar  Todnian's  Bay,  which  lias  for  the  most 
part  a  sandy  beach.  In  the  ncntheast  corner,  black  ma<>netic  santl  occurs  on  the  shore. 
For  the  next  0  miles  the  banks  of  the  lake  bre  steep,  and  several  low  promontories 
extend  from  the  shore.  .Just  north  of  Glenbrook  a  bold  rocky  headhind  projects  far 
out.  frcnn  the  jjoneral  shore-line,  and  forms  a  very  cons])icuous  jxiint  in  the  norlhera 
half  of  the  lake.  Gh^nbrook,  the  most  important  settlement  on  Lak  •  Talme,  and  the 
lu'ad(iuarters  of  the  hnuber  tradt^  lies  in  a  small  l)ay.  Tliere  is  considerable,  arable- 
land  in  this  vicinity.  Astrij)  of  productive  land  extends  back  from  the  lak(i  tor  a  dis- 
tance of  2  miles,  where  it  is  called  Si)ooner's  Meadow.  Proceeding  south  the  coast- 
line is  quite  uniform  until  Cave  Kock  is  reached.  This  is  a  very  conspicuous  point. 
The  name  is  derived  from  the  fact  that  a  cave  about  20  feet  long  and  10  feet  high 
occurs  on  the  south  side  of  this  i)roJi'cting  rock,  which  consists  of  porphyriric  trachyte. 
There  are  three  low,  densely  wooded  tongue.s  of  land  on  the  eastern  side  of  Lake 
Tahoe  south  of  Cave  Kock.  The  shore-line  is  regular,  and  sandy  for  the  remaining 
jtoition  of  this  ('oast  of  the  lake.  A  good  wagon-road  follows  the  eastiMii  border  of 
this  sheet  of  water  from  Glenbrook  to  Lake  Valley.  There  are  no  outlying  ridges 
belonging  to  the  Eastern  Summit  that  ruu  parallel  to  it.  The  Eastern  Summit  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the  alluvial  valleys  of  Carson  and  Washoe.  The  low  ridge  of 
granite  that  separates  these  vnlleys  may  l)e  regarded  as  a  spur  of  this  main  range. 
There  is  no  other  place  between  Washoe  City  and  Carson  City  where  rock  occurs  in  situ. 

The  Eastern  Sunnnit  consists  chiefly  of  granite  and  syenitie  granite.  A  few  erup- 
tions of  igneous  rock  have  taken  ])lace  throughout  the  range.  Beginning  at  the  north- 
ernmost part  of  the  range  explored  by  me,  the  lirst  upheaval  is  Mount  Rose,  where  a 
conical  mass  of  basalt  has  broken  through  the  granite.  Many  bowlders  of  this  rock 
are  scattered  over  the  country  for  seveial  mih-s  to  the  east  and  south.  The  color  of 
the  rock  is  blue,  and  on  the  summit  of  Mcuint  Rose  the  basalt  is  laminated  and  ferru- 
ginous. There  are  no  trees  within  300  feet  of  the  top  of  the  peak,  the  only  vegeta- 
tion being  moss  and  occasional  tufrs  of  grass.  There  are  many  anticlinal  ridges  ruu- 
iiing  in  every  direction  on  the  west  of  Mount  Rose.  The  rock  formiug  the  summit  is 
much  disiutegrate<l,  and  the  south  side,  which  is  quite  steep,  is -covered  with  debris. 
This  peak  is  10,820  feet  high.  A  spur  of  the  Eastern  Summit,  near  Carson,  consists  of 
trachyte.  On  the  western  side  of  the  range,  just  south  of  Glenbrook,  a  mass  of  feld- 
.spathic  dioiite,  about  700  feet  high,  occurs.  It  has  been  called  Shakspeare's  Glilf,  ou 
account  of  a  peculiar  grouping  of  the  lichens  on  the  face  of  the  cliti'  bearing  a  strong 
reseinb.lance  to  the  prolile  of  the  poet.  The  north  side  of  this  butte  is  perpendicular 
lialf-way  down,  with  soil  and  debris  sloping  to  the  valley.  The  south  side  contains 
many  pillars  of  the  diorite,  showing  the  prismatic  structure  finely.  Some  of  these 
columns  are  curved,  and  of  considerable  length.  Shakspeare's  Clili'  is  773  feet  above 
Lake  Tahoe.  The  butte  known  as  Cave  Rock  has  already  been  mentioned.  It  is  about 
l.'O  feet  high.  No  igTieous  rock  is  found  south  of  this  point  in  the  portions  of  the 
Eastern  Sunnnit  exidoied  by  me. 

The  conical  mountains  known  as  Job's  Peaks  ami  Freel's  Peak  form  the  sonthern- 
miist  limit  of  this  range.  These  peaks,  together  with  their  outliers  on  the  north  and 
west,  consist  of  grayish  granite.  Some  of  the  ridges  diverging  from  Job's  Peaks  have 
a  serrated  outline,  and  are  densely  wooded  with  pine  and  spruce.  The  sunuuits  of 
these  peaks  are  covered  with  loose  fragments  of  granite,  while  the  slopes  are  dotted 
with  rocky  tors  and  projecting  crags,  which  present  a  very  picturesque  appearance. 
The  altitude  of  these  mountains  is  as  follows:  Freel's  Peak,  ]0,8()2  leet ;  Joli's  Peak, 
10,650  feet;  Job's  Sister,  10.7ti0  feet.  In  general,  it  may  be  said  that  the  ridge-line  of 
the  plateau-like  range  called  the  I^astern  Summit  consists  entirely  of  granite,  which  ia 
flanked  in  several  ])lac(s  by  igneons  rock-',  w  Inch  are  usually  spurs  of  the  range.  The 
average  height  of  the  Eastern  Summit  is  about  9,*-G0  feet.  Oie-depcsits  occur  iu  the 
Eastern  Summit,  the  jniniijial  of  which  are  the  following: 

1.  The  Montreal  mine.  This  mine  is  situated  about  2^  miles  northwest  of  Carson 
City.  It  was  first  ojiened  in  Ir'O,  and  has  been  worked  ar.  intervals  ever  since.  A 
tunnel,  several  hundred  feet  long,  1  as  been  driven  in  the  side  of  the  nu>uutain,  above 
Avhich  is  still  aufdher  tunnel  150  teet  in  length.  The  ore  occurs  in  gray  gianite  and 
quartz  rock.  The  granite  is  frt-quently  i)oor  iu  mica.  Dark-blue  sandstone-veins 
traverse  the  country-rock.  There  is  but  little  water  in  the  uunes.  The  ore  is  argen- 
tifenuis  ;  some  of  it  is  said  to  assay  as  much  as  .|l,700  per  ton.  The  main  rock  form- 
ing the  slope  of  the  mountain  iu  which  the  Montreal  mine  lies  is  syenitie  granite.  A 
small  stamping-mill  was  iu  course  of  erection  iu  September,  1876,  and  eighteen  men 
were  working  at  that  time. 

2.  The  Emerald  mine  adjoins  the  preceding.  This  mine  was  discovered  in  1874,  and 
has  been  worked  at  intervals  since  then.  A  tunnel  400  feet  long  has  been  driven  iu 
the  granite.  The  rock  is  darker  within  the  tunnel  than  at  the  surface,  where  it  is  soft; 
and  crumbling.     The  ore  assays  $90  to  the  ton. 


1290  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

3.  The  Clear  Creek  Canon  mine  known  as  the  William's  Lorle.  This  mine  was 
opened  in  the  antunin  of  1875,  and  has  been  worked  at  intervals  from  that  time.  The 
wall-rock  is  granite,  overlaid  by  jfrayish  clay.  The  vein  rnns  north  71"^  east,  and  is 
about  3  feet  wide.  The  dip  is  37°.  There  is  a  tunnel  300  feet  lonj;,  and  a  shaft  75  feet 
deep  has  been  sunk.  The  minerals  found  are  malachite,  azurite,  pyrite,  and  crystal- 
line-quartz. Abouc  ,fGO,000  has  been  expended  on  this  mine,  and  but  two  men  were 
workinf>-  in  September,  1870.  Half  a  mile  northward  is  the  Woodstock  Lode.  The 
vein-matter  runs  northeast  and  southwest,  and  is  exposed  in  a  suuiU  prosi)ect-hn]e. 
Both  the  Williams  and  Woodstock  Lodes  are  argentiferous.  There  are  several  other 
prospect-holes  on  the  ridge  between  Clear  Creelc  and  Carsou  City,  but  no  develop- 
ments of  any  account  have  been  made  thus  far. 

4.  The  Niagara  mine.  I  did  not  visit  this  mine,  but  the  following  description  is  con- 
densed from  the  report  of  Mr.  H.  R.  Whitehill  for  1873-'74 :  "  The  Niagara  mine  is 
situated  north  of  King's  Canon,  and  west  of  Carson.  The  vein  is  inoassd  in  slate  and 
gneiss,  and  is 30  feet  wide  on  the  100-foot  level.  Besides  two  cross-cuts  on  the  surface, 
thei'e  is  a  shaft  5  by  6  feet  sunk  to  the  depth  of  100  feet.  A  drift  about  70  feet,  run- 
ning in  a  westerly  direction,  (the  dip  of  the  vein  being  almost  45"  to  the  west,  pitch- 
ing into  the  hill,)  cuts  the  vein  at  about  40  feBt,  and  thrfuoe  runs  35  feot  through  the 
lode  toward  the  west  wall.  The  rock  contains  from  5  to  30  per  cent,  of  copper,  which 
gives  it  a  g-eeu  color.  The  copper  schist  lies  east  of  t  lo  gneiss,  in  which  free  gold  is 
found.  Tnis  mine  has  good  clay  walls,  and  is,  doubtless,  a  true  tissure-veln.  Assays 
of  ore  from  this  mine  have  reached  info  the  hiinireds.  It  is  incorporated,  and  is 
divided  into  30,000  shares.     The  extent  of  this  claim  is  1,500  feet  along  the  lode." 

THE   WESTERN   SUMMIT. 

This  term  has  been  given  to  the  range  bordering  Lake  Tahoe  on  the  west.  The 
portions  of  it  explored  in  1876  lie  between  Pyramid  Peak  and  the  town  of  Truckee, 
a  distance  of  about  35  miles.  The  range  rises  abruptly  from  the  level  of  the  lake  to 
a  com))aratively  narrow  serrated  ridge-line,  and  passes  gradually  into  a  series  of  broad 
plateau-lilve  foot-hills,  which  extend^westward  to  the  Sacramento  Valley. 

The  Western  Summit  is  composed  of  several  ridges  running  parallel  or  nearly  paral- 
lel to  each  other.  Beginning  at  the  southern  end,  there  is  the  Pyramid  Peak  Range  ou 
the  extreme  west;  then  come  twominor  irregular  ridges  between  icand  the  Tallac  Range. 
The  latter  is  of  a  very  picturesque  outline.  The  canons  of  the  .Western  Summit  are 
winding  and  greatly  diversified.  This  range  is  not  densely  wooded,  except  along  the 
foot  of  the  slopes,  and  the  peaks  are  rocky  and  barren.  Quaking-aspens  grow  on  the 
eastern  s-lope  and  in  Blackwood  aud  Truckee  Canons.  There  is  scarcely  any  vegeta- 
tion in  the  upper  parts  of  the  range.  Some  of  the  peaks  are  remarkable  f  »r  the  great 
variety  of  lichens  growing  on  their  rocky  summits.  Black,  yellow,  gray,  brown,  and 
red  lichens  are  found  on  Twin  Peaks.  White  thorn  and  manzanita  bash  abound  on  the 
easterly  side  of  the  Western  Summit,  and  a  few  ferns  are  scatte#ed  hither  aud  thither. 
The  principal  trees  are  pine,  spruce,  and  fir.  In  the  southern  part  pines  attain  the 
height  of  150  feet.  The  trunks  of  these  trees  are  oftentimes  covered  with  bright-green 
moss  for  a  distance  of  30  feet  from  the  ground.  There  is  but  little  arable  land  in  this 
range  ;  Scjuaw  Valley,  Blackwood  Cauoh,  and  Tahoe  City  being  the  only  places  where 
it  may  be  found  to  any  extent.  There  are  numerous  lakes  on  the  Western  Summit ; 
the  most  important  of  which  are  Fallen  L^af,  Cascade,  and  Echo  Lakes.  The  one  first 
named  is  situate:!  in  the  western  side  of  Lake  Valley,  about  1^  miles  from  Lake  Tahor, 
which  is  118  feet  lower.  Fallen  Leaf  Lake  is  about  I  mile  wide  and  3.V  miles  long.  The 
temperature  of  the  water  was  54°  F.  in  0  ;tober.  On  the  northeast  shi>rc)  of  this  lalie  are 
found  pebbles  of  a  great  variety  of  rock,  such  as  slate,  basalt,  granite,  diorite,  Sea.,  all 
of  which  have  been  brought  from  the  lofty  Western  Summit.  Cascade  Laki  is  about 
li  miles  from  Lake  Tahoe,  and  lies  directly  in  front  of  Tallac  Peak ;  but,  unlike  Fallen 
Leaf  Lake,  its  discharge-creek  has  considerable  fall,  and  the  surface  of  Cascade  Lake 
is  3.50  feet  above  Tahoe.     A  lumber-road  leads  from  the  former  to  the  latter. 

Echo  Lake  lies  between  two  rocky  ridges  on  top  of  the  Western  Summit,  about  1 
mile  from  the  Placerville  road.  It  is  about  1^  miles  long  and  oue-fourth  mile  broad. 
The  southern  bank  of  the  lake  is  lined  with  conifers  and  a  few  alder  bushes.  Else- 
where the  shores  are  very  barren  aud  rocky.  Beside  these  just-described  lakes  there 
are  at  least  twenty  others  of  minor  importance  throughout  the  Western  Summit. 
These  mountain  lakelets  usually  lie  in  cup-shaped  depressions  in  the  granite. 

The  principal  streams  in  the  Western  Summit  are  the  south  fork  oi'  the  American 
River  and  the  Truckee  River.  The  former  risas  near  the  "Devil's  Basin,"  flows  south, 
then  southwest,  and  empties  into  the  Sacramento  River.  The  latter  rises  at  the  head 
of  Lake  Valley,  flows  northward  through  Lake  Tahoe,  just  as  the  Rhone  flows  through 
the  Lake  of  Geneva,  then  turns  westward,  and  finally,  after  running  northerly  for 
several  miles,  takes  a  northeastern  direction  and  empties  into  Pyramid  Lake. 

Most  of  the  brooks  iu  this  range  rise  ou  the  ridge-liue,  flow  eastward,  aud  empty  iato 


APPENDIX    N  N.  1291 

Lake  Tahoe,  the  more  prominent  of  wLicli  are  Blackwood  and  McKiunoy's  Creeks.     The 
■v\-att'i-  of  all  these  streams  is  cold  and  clear. 

There  are  two  pasi-es  in  the  Western  Snniinit  that  are  traversable  with  vehicles: 
The  Placerville  stage-road,  called  the  "jjrade,"  on  the  eastern  slope,  several  nules  south 
of  Mount  Tallac,  which  was  constructed  in  1860,  soou  after  the  discovery  of  the  Corn- 
stock  Lode;  the  other  pass  that  is  traversed  by  a  wagon-road  is  the  canon  of  the 
Trnekee  River,  from  the  town  of  the  same  name  to  Tahoe  City.  The  road  runs  along 
the  south  side  of  the  river  for  7  miles  from  Truckee,  when  it  crosses  the  stream  and 
coutiunes  ou  the  northern  shore  to  ihe  lake.  A  wagon-road  traverses  a  si)ur  of  the 
"Western  Summit  on  the  north  side  of  Lake  Tahoe,  from  Warm  Springs  to  Truckee.  A 
road  runs  up  to  the  head  of  IMackwood  Canon,  which  might  be  continued  across  the 
range.  A  wagon  route  follows  the  lake  shore  from  Warm  Springs  to  Tahoe  Ciry,  and 
thence  to  McKinney's.  'J'heve  are  no  irrigating  ditches  in  this  range.  The  topography 
of  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Tahoe  may  be  aptly  described  in  the  following  manner: 
The  s(nithwesteru  shore  of  the  lake  presents  bold  and  rocky  headlands.  Emerald  ]5ay 
is  an  indentation  of  the  coa.'-t,  extending  2}  miles  inward.  The  opening  of  the  bay  is 
about  half  a  mile  broad.  Going  northward,  the  shore  is  tolerably  regular,  but  rises 
abrujitly  from  the  levLd  of  the  lake.  At  Rubicon  Point  a  steep  rocky  promontory  juts 
into  the"  lake.  From  this  jdace  to  Tahoe  City  there  is  very  little  rock  in  sUt(,  the  shore 
being  a  comparatively  level  strip  of  alluvium,  with  a  sandy  beach,  and  bordered  with 
a  VL-ry  thick  growth  of  manzanita  as  far  as  Sugar  Pine  Point.  The  coast-line  runs 
iiortii,  without,  any  marked  features  until  Meigs's  Bay  is  reached.  This  is  a  picturesque 
bight,  about  half  a  mile  in  breadth,  which  is  bounded  ou  the  north  by  Sugar  Pine 
Point.  This  tongue  of  laud  is  the  longest  in  Lake  Tahoe,  and  covers  at  least  ;5  miles 
in  width,  including  its  sinuosities.  On  the  northern  side  of  this  point  the  shore-line 
trends  nearly  due  west  for  a  niile,  and  then  northward  again,  without  appreciable 
curves,  to  Tahoe  City,  forming  the  broad  Upson's  Bay.  At  this  locality  the  land  bears 
noitheast  to  Observatory  Point,  a  V-shaped  cape  jutting  far  out  into  the  lake.  The 
coast-line  then  runs  uort'herly  and  curves  gradually  until  it  has  an  eastward  bearing, 
forming  the  semi-circular  Cornelian  Bay.  The  northern  shore  of  the  lake  tends  gently 
to  the  southeast  until  the  western  bounVlary  of  Todman's  Bay  is  reached,  thus  forming 
the  rocky  promontory  known  as  State-line  Point.,  which  divides  California  from  Ne- 
vada. This  poiut  stretches  far  out  into  Lake  Tahoe,  and  diminishes  gradually  in  width 
till  the  apex  consists  simply  of  a  row  of  detached  masses  of  rock,  decreasing  in  size 
until  the  water-level  is  reached. 

There  has  been  much  more  erosion  and  denudation  in  the  Western  than  in  the  East- 
ern Suuinit.  In  the  former  range  the  gorges  have  precipitous  \vall8.  The  slopes  of 
many  ridges  are  covered  with  debris. 

The  scenery  throughout  the  Western  Summit  is  exceedingly  picturesque.  The  variety 
in  the  landscape  seen  from  any  of  the  high  peaks  is  unique.  The  rugged  mountains 
azure  lakes,  and  winding  cafions  present  a  scene  of  surpassing  grandeur.  There  is  a 
striking  contrast  berween  the  eastern  and  western  slopes  of  this  range  in  reference  to 
the  timber;  the  former  being  for  the  most  part  bare  and  rocky,  while  the  latter  is 
densely  wooded.  , 

There  is  abundant  evidence  of  the  former  existence  of  glaciers  in  the  Western  Sum- 
mit. I  have  condensed  the  following  extract  from  Prof.  Joseph  Le  Conte's  paper  ou 
"  Ancient  Glaciers  of  the  Sierra,*"  as  he  has  studied  the  glacial  phenomena  thor- 
oughly : 

''Between  the  Eastern  and  Western  Summits  lies  a  trough  fifty  miles  long,  twenty 
miles  wide,  and  3,000  to  3,.500  feet  deep.  This  trough  is  Lake  Valley.  It  was  formerly 
occupied  by  a  great  glacier  rising  near  Pyramid  Peak,  tilling  Lake  Tahoe,  and  escaping 
northeast  toward  the  plains.  Some  of  the  ice  escaped  by  Truckee  Canon,  for  I  have 
found  glacial  markings  on  the  rocks  in  this  canon.  During  glacial  times  the  trough 
of  Lake  Valley,  the  lower  half  of  which  is  now  filled  with  the  waters  of  Lake  Tahoe, 
was  a  great  nler  de  (//flce,  receiving  tributaries  from  all  directions  except  the  north. 
The  tracks  of  the  smaller  glaciers  are  more  easily  traced  than  those  of  the  principal 
cue.  Of  the  two  summits,  the  western  is  the  higher.  It  bears  the  most  snow  now, 
and  in  former  times  yave  origin  to  the  grandest  glaciers.  Again,  the  peaks  on  both 
these  summits  rise  higher  and  higher  as  we  go  toward  the  upper  or  southern  end  of 
the  lake.  Hence,  the  largest  glaciers  ran  into  the  lake  at  its  sonthwestern  side.  Be- 
tween this  point  and  Sugar  Pine  Poiut,  a  distance  of  about  nine  miles,  I  saw  the  path- 
ways of  five  or  six  glaciers.  North  of  Sugar  Pine  Point  there  are  also  several.  They 
are' all  marked  by  moraine  ridges  running  down  from  the  summits  and  projecting  as 
points  into  the  lake.  Inasmuch  as  the  highest  mountains  are  on  the  southwesterly  end 
of  the  lake,  the  greatest  glaciers  have  been  there  as  well  as  the  profoundest  glacial 
sculpturings.  I  need  only  name  Mount  Tallac,  Fallen  Leaf  Lake,  Cascade  Lake 
and  Emerald  Bay.  These  three  fine  little  lakes,  (for  Emerald  Bay  is  also  almost 
a  lake,)  ntstled  closely  against  the  loftiest  peaks  on  the  western  summit,  are  all  per- 

*  Am.  Journal,  Ser.  Ill,  vol.  v,  p.  125;  Proo.  Cal.  Acad.  Sciences,  vol.  iv,  part  5,  p.  259. 


1292  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    EKGINEERS. 

feet  examples  of  glacial  lakes.  South  of  Lake  Talioe  extends  Lake  Valley  for  fifteen 
miles  as  a  plain  f^ently  risino-  southward.  Its  lower  eud  is  but  a  few  feet  above  the 
lake-surface,  and  covered  with  {rlacial  drift  modified  by  water  and  diversified,  particu- 
larly on  the  western  side,  by  clehris  ridges,  the  moraines  of  glaciers  -which  continue 
to  flow  into  the  valley  or  into  the  lake  long  after  the  main  glacier  had  dried  up. 

''FalUn  Leaf  Lake  ///«eier.— This  lake  is  bordered  on  either  side  by  an  admirably- 
marked  dahns  ridge  (ino-aines)  300  feet  high,  4  miles  long,  and  \\  to  2  miles  apart. 
These  nioraines  may  be  traced  back  to  the  termination  of  the  rocky  ridges  tliat  bound 
the  c.n  in.  On  the  one  side  the  moraine  lies  wholly  on  the  plain,  on  the  other  side  its 
upper  part  lies  against  the  slope  of  Mount  Tallac.  Near  the  lower  end  of  the  lake  a  some- 
what obscure  branch  ridge  comes  off  from  each  main  ridge,  and,  curving  round,  they 
form  an  imperfect  terminal  uioraine,  through  which  the  outlet  of  the  lake  breaks  its 
way.  On  ascending  the  canon,  the  glaciatioa  is  very  conspicuous,  and  becomes  more 
and  more  beautiful  at  every  step.  From  Soda  Springs  upward  it  is  the  most  splendid 
I  have  ever  seen.  In  some  places  the  whole  rocky  bottom  of  the  canon  is  smooth,  pol- 
ished, and  gently  undulating,  like  the  surface  of  a  glassy  but  billowy  sea.  The  glaci- 
ation  is  distinct  .ilso  op  the  sides  of  the  canon  1,000  feet  above  its  floor.  There  can  be 
130  doubt,  therefore,  that  a  glacier  once  came  down  this  canon,  filling  it  1,000  feet, 
scooped  out  Fallen  Leaf  Lake  just  where  it  struck  the  plain,  and  changed  its  angle 
of  slope,  and  pushed  its  snout  4  mles  ont  on  the  level  plain  nearly  to  the  present 
shores  of  Lake  Tahoe,  dropping  its  debris  on  either  side,  and  thus  forming  a  bed  for 
itstlf.  In  its  subsequent  retreat  it  seems  to  have  rested  its  snout  some  time  at  the  lower 
end  of  Fallen  Leaf  Lake,  and  accumulated  there  an  imperfect  terminal  moraine. 

"Cascade  Lake  olacier. — On  either  side  of  the  creek,  running  out  of  this  lake  from 
the  very  border  of  Lake  Tahoe,  runs  a  moraine  ridge  up  to  the  lake,  and  thence  along 
each  side  of  it  up  to  the  rocky  points,  which  terminate  the  true  mountain  canon  above 
the  head  of  Cascade  Lake.  I  have  never  anywhere  seen  more  perfectly-defined 
moraines.  I  climbed  over  the  larger  west-rn  moraine  and  found  that  it  is  partly 
merged  into  the  eastern  moraine  of  Emerald  Bay,  to  form  a  medial  at  least.300  feet 
high  and  of  great  breadth.  From  the  surface  of  the  little  lake,  the  curving  branches 
of  the  main  moraine,  meeting  below  the  lake  to  form  a  terminal  moraine,  are  very  dis- 
tinct. _  At  the  head  of  the  lake  there  is  a  perpendicular  clitf,  over  which  the  head  of 
the  river  precipitates  itself,  forming  a  very  pretty  cascade  of  100  feet  or  more., 
On  ascending  the  canon  above  the  head  of  the  lake  for  several  miles  I  found  every- 
where above  the  lip  of  the  precipice,  over  the  whole  floor  of  the  canon,  and  np 
the  sides  1,000  feet  or  more,  the  most  perfect  giaciation.  There  cannot  be,  therefore, 
the  slightest  doubt  that  this  is  also  the  pathway  of  a  glacier  which  once  ran  into  Lake 
Tahoe.  After  coming  down  its  steep,  rocky  bed  it  precipitated  itself  over  the  cliff, 
scooped  out  the  lake  at  its  foot,  and  ran  on  till  it  bathed  its  snout  in  the  waters  of 
Lake  Tahoe,  and  probably  formed  icebergs  there.  In  its  subsequent  retreat  it  seems  to 
have  dropped  more  debris  in  its  path,  and  formed  a  more  perfect  terminal  moraine 
than  did  Fallen  Leaf  Lake  glacier. 

''Emerald  Bay  fflacitr. — All  that  I  have  said  of  Fallen  Leaf  Lake  and  Cascade  Lake 
applies  almoist  word  for  word  to  Emerald  Bay.  This  beautiful  bay,  almost  a  lake,  has 
been  formed  by  a  glacier.  It  is  .also  hounded  on  eitter  side  by  moraines,  which  run  down 
to  and  even  project  into  Lake  Tahoe,  and  nny  be  traced  up  to  the  rocky  points  that 
form  the  mouth  of  the  canon  at  the  head  of  the  bay.  Its  eastern  moraine,  as  already 
stated,  is  partly  merged  into  the  western  moraine  of  Cascade  Lake  to  form  a  huge 
medi'^1  moraine.  Its  western  moraine  lies  partly  against  a  rocky  ridge  running  down 
to  Lake  Tahoe  to  form  Rubicon  Point.  At  the  head  of  the  bay,  as  at  the  head  of  Cas- 
cade Lake,  there  is  a  cliff  about  100  feet  high,  over  which  the  river  precipitates  itself 
and  forms  a  fine  cascade.  Over  the  lip  of  this  cliff  and  in  the  bed  of  the  cafnin  above, 
and  up  the  sides  of  the  clift'-like  walls,  1,000  feet  or  more,  the  most  perfect  giaciation 
is  found.  The  onljr  difference  between  this  glacier  and  the  two  preceding  is  that  it 
ran  more  deeply  into  the  main  lake,  and  the  deposits  dropped  in  its  retreat  did  not 
rise  high  enough  to  cut  off  its  little  rock  basin  from  that  lake,  but  exists  now  only  .as 
a  shallow  bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  bay.  This  bar  consists  of  true  moraine  matter,  i.  e., 
intermingled  bowlders  and  sand,  which  may  be  examined  thi'ough  the  exquisitely  trans- 
parent water  almost  as  perf-'ctly  as  if  no  water  were  present.  Some  of  the  bowlders 
are  of  large  size.  One  sees  from  the  top  of  Tallac  Peak  the  whole  course  of  these  three 
glaciers,  their  fountain  amphitheaters,  their  canon  beds,  and  their  lakes  inclosed 
between  their  moraine  arms." 

Professor  Le  Conte  has  found  abundant  evidence  of  the  former  existence  of  a  great 
glacier  in  Lake  Valley.  Bowlders  and  pebbles  of  slate  on  the  north  shore  of  Fallen 
Leaf  Lake  can  easily  be  traced  to  their  parent  rock  in  the  canon  above  the  lake.  These 
pebbles  have  also  been  traced  aloyg  the  western  shores  of  the  great  lake  beyond  Sugar 
Pine  Point  'o  the  extreme  northwestern  shore,  nearly  thirty  miles  from  their  source. 
The  Fallen  Leaf  Lake  glacier  was  once  a  tributary  to  a  much  greater  glacier  that  filled 
Lake  Tahoe.  Again,  Le  Conte  finds  additional  evidence  of  a  Lake  Tahoe  mer  de  fflace 
in  the  contrasted  character  of  the  northern  and  sDuthera  shores  of  the  lake.    The  same 


APPENDIX   NN.  1293 

observer  states  tliat,  all  the  other  sierra  lakes  he  has  seen  certaiuly  owe  their  origin  to 
glacial  agency.  Lake  Talme  has  been  partly  shajjed  by  the  same  operation,  and  traces 
of  glacial  deltas  arc  found  along  the  western  shore. 

Le  Conte  thinks  careful  examination  would  discover  the  pathways  of  glaciers  run- 
ning iuto  the  lake  from  tlie-  eastern  suuiinit,  but  ho  failed  to  di^te<'t  any  evideuces  of 
them.  In  my  own  examination  of  this  range  I  found  no  traces  of  glaciers,  particularly 
no  glacial  scratches.  There  are  some  bowlders  scattered  over  the  eastern  side  of  the 
Piinge  tiiat  may  have  been  transported  by  glaci  rs. 

'Jlie  j)redomiuatiiig  rock  in  the  western  sninmit  is  granite.  But  igneous  rocks  such 
as  basalt,  diorite,  and  phonolite  have  broken  tluougli  the  granite  in  f-everal  places. 
Tliis  lauge  may  be  iitly  divided  iuto  the  Pyramid  IVak  ridge,  the  Tallac  I'eak  ridge, 
the  Twin  Peak  ridge,  and  the  ridge  north  ot  Tiuckee  Canon. 

Beginning  on  the  south,  the  Pyramid  Peak  ridge  consists  chiefly  of  granite.  This  is 
the  w.  sternmost  ridge  of  the  western  summit,  and  its  southern  boundary  is  the  Amer- 
ican Fork  Canon,  a  narrow,  windy  valley  with  pi-ecii)itous  sides  comjxj^ed  of  gray 
gianite.  The  peak  itself  is  a  niat^s  of  coaise-grained,  yellowish  granite,  in  the  form  of 
a  ]iyiandd,  lising  about  liOt)  feet  above  the  ri<lge-line.  'J"he  altitude  of  Pyramid  Peak 
is  lb  Oil's  feet.  The  north  side  of  this  peak  is  much  steejjer  than  the  other  sides.  Angu- 
lar fiagments  of  granite  cover  the  slopes  of  Pyramid  Peak  for  a  distance  of  aipiarterto 
a  luilf  Uiile  from  the  top.  There  is  a  suuill  grass  patch  on  the  northeast  side  of  the 
luountaiu.  The  eastern  declivity  of  Pyramid  Peak  i)asses  gradually  into  the  "Devil's 
Basin,"  a  vast  amphitheater  of  granite,  probably  formed  by  glacial  agency,  and  con- 
taining a  series  of  bikel  ts.  A  serrated  ridge  forms  theeasteru  boundary  of  tliis  baMU. 
The  rock  is  grayish  granite,  with  large,  dark  specks  of  the  same  rock  disseminated 
tluougli  it  at  the  point  where  the  Placerville  road  crosses  the  western  suninit.  At  tirst 
flight  these  spots  presented  the  appevirance  of  hornblende,  but  on  close  examination  it 
was  found  that  they  were  only  a  daiker  variety  of  the  granite,  although  ihe  forms 
were  six-sided.  This  pecnlianty  of  structure  was  observed  treiiuently  in  the  southern 
])ortion  (if  the  western  summit.  Abiut  a  mile  north  of  the  Placerville  road  is  Echo 
Lake,  (7,478  feet  high,)  which  forms  the  outlet  of  a  lake-basin  exiending  several  miles 
1o  the  westward.  Nuimaous  islands  occur  in  the  lakes  of  this  basin,  and  so  >  e  of  ihem 
Lave  a  little  soil  and  a  few  trees.  The  rock  bordering  Echo  Lake  is  g  ay  syenitic  gran- 
ite, which  is  much  t  aversed  by  joints.  On  the  northeast  s'de  of  this  lake  a  wall  of 
granite  r;ses  abrujitly  to  a  he  ght  of  several  hundred  fcft,  ard  forms  the  boutheru  end 
of  a  mass  ot  the  same  rock  exti  ndiug  north  to  Gilmore's  Canon. 

•  i\llhougli  not  strictly  belonging  to  the  western  summit,  a  brief  description  of  Lake 
Valley  n)ay  be  given  here.  The  greater  )>art  of  this  valley  is  Quater:  ary.  There  is  no 
rock  in  sila  for  4  or  5  miles  fiom  Lake  Tahoe.  A  morass  coTered  with  coniferous  tfees 
extends  back  from  the  l,>ke  about  half  a  mile,  and  east  and  west  for  a  mile  and  a  half. 
Lake-weed  and  eel  grass  abound  in  this  nnirsh,  where  the  water  va  ies  froiii  6  inches  to 
3  feet  in  depth.  Mallaid  ducks  and  grebes  are  common.  The  sandy  bench  «  n  the 
northern  side  of  Lake  Valley  is  lined  with  alder  bushes.  About  five  miles  from  Row- 
land's, near  Barion's  ranch,  two  buttes  of  gray  granite  occur.  Black  micM,  limpid 
quartz,  and  grayish-white  feldspar  are  the  (onstituents  of  the  rock.  Tin-  buttes  are 
several  hundred  feet  in  height,  and  may  be  considered  as  outliers  ot  eith*  r  the  w  stern 
or  eastern  summits.  The  country  bet\veen  these  buttes  is  strew=-d  with  large  granitic 
bowlders.  At  the  head  of  Lake  Valley,  near  Hawley's  ranch,  dark  grayish  graphite 
occurs  with  quartz.  A  wagon-road  runs  from  Rowland's  along  the  eastern  side  of 
Fallen  Leaf  Lake  to  Soda  Siiriigs,  two  miles  f  om  Gilmore's  ram  h,  on  the  lake.  Ac- 
cordirg  to  the  aneroid,  the  sjirings  are  325  feetaboveit.  The  t^mpeiature  of  the  water 
is  46.J'^  F.  The  spring-water  contains  carboirc  acid,  sef^quioxide  of  iron,  and  snlphur- 
eted  liydrogeu.     It  is  bottled  and  sold  a:  Rowland's  and  other  hotel-t  o.j  Lnke  ThIioc. 

The  Tallac  Peak  ridge  runsfnun  Gilmore's CaRon  to  Blackwood  Canon.  Between  this 
ridge  and  that  of  Pyramid  Peak  are  two  minor  ridges  without  any  name,  composed  of 
many  dome-shaped  ))enksand  rocky  tors  alternating  with  V-shaped  ravines.  A  vast  am- 
phitheater bounds  Tallac  Peak  on  the  south.  The  rock  is  gray  graiiite  as  far  as  the 
springs,  where  it  passes  into  basalt,  having  a  slaty  structure.  The  creek  which  flows  into 
Fallen  Leaf  Lake  has  cut  asmall  chatinel  in  the  bottom  of  this  basin,  in  whicji  are  a  few 
cascades.  Tnere  are  several  lateral  canons  on  the  south  side  of  Gilmore's  Canon,  which 
rise  in  rocky  terraces  one  behind  another.  The  western  and  southern  jiortionsof  Gil- 
more's C:  Fion  aflbrd  tine  examples  of  loaches  Moatonnies.  The  rock  is  granite  on  these 
S'des  of  the  canon  and  basalt  on  the  northern.  A  small  number  t)f  conifers  are  scattered 
over  the  canon.  Mount  Tallac  is  a  mass  of  bluish  basalt  upheaved  through  granite.  The 
roi  k  shows  nearly  every  variety  of  structure  known  to  the  inembeis  of  the  basaltic 
groups.  There  are  both  granular  and  conjpact  species.  Some  specimens  Mre  porpiiy- 
ritic  with  compact  matrix.  Incrustations  of  olivine  occur  in  ])laces.  Nearly  all  the 
northeast  side  of  Tallac  Peak  is  composed  of  compact  basalt.  The  wall  of  rock  form- 
ing this  hide  rises  perpendicularly  700  feet  or  more  from  the  plateau  to  the  east  of  it. 
Three  detached  masses  of  rock  that  have  undergone  much  disintegration  project  from 
the  face  of  the  main  peak.    The  jointed  structure  of  the  basalt  has  been  favorable  to 


1294  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

denndation  on  account  of  the  many  fissures  in  wbicli  the  water  and  melted  snow  freeze, 
thus  expanding  the  cracks  till  the  rock  splits  and  falls.  The  dififerenceof  hardness  in 
the  hasalt  is  well  shown  in  the  northeastern  side  of  Mount  Tallac.  Isolated  crags  and 
jyiunacles  stand  out  boldly  from  the  mountain,  while  the  rock  that  formerly  connected 
them  with  it  has  been  worn  away  by  the  influence  of  the  elements.  A  vast  amount  of 
talus  lies  at  the  foot  of  the  eastern  slope  of  Tallac.  Seeds  of  the  white-thorn  and  man- 
zanita  bush  hav'e  been  scattered  over  this  debris  and  taken  root  in  the  rocky  soii,  tlius 
forming  a  dense  thicket  impassable  for  pack-aninuils.  The  southwestern  declivity  of  Tal- 
lac Peak  slants  gradually  to  Lake  Gihnore,  and  is  covered  with  nutritions  grass,  to- 
gether with  occasional  clusters  of  trees  except  for  a  distance  of  about  300  feet  from  the 
summit.  Ledges  of  blue  basalt  outcrop  in  many  localities  on  the  southern  and  western 
slopes.  The  height  of  Tallac  Peak  is  9,732  feet.  Lake  Gilmore  occupies  the  bottom  of  a 
basin  with  lofty  walls,  and  is  1,333  feet  below  the  summit  of  Tallac  according  to  the  mer- 
curial barometer.  The  temperature  of  the  water  in  this  lake  is  r)0°  F.  The  eastern  slope 
of  jMonnt  Tallac  has  been  gro  >ved  and  polished  by  glaciers.  I  f  jund  line  examples  of 
glai  ial  scratches  about  half  a  mile  from  the  summit.  In  some  places  the  face  of  the 
cliff  is  as  smooth  as  if  cut  by  a  chisel.  The  southern  side  of  this  mouutaiu  is  exceed- 
ingly steep,  and  nearly  all  of  it  is  covered  wit.h  rocky  debris,  while  a  solitary  conifer- 
ous tree  here  and  there  breaks  the  monotony  of  the  scene.  Granite  surrounds  Tallac 
Peak  on  all  sides  except  on  the  northeast,  where  Lake  Tahoe  forms  the  boundary-line. 
A  description  of  this  mountain  would  be  incomplete  without  a  brief  reference  to  the 
iiiagniticeut  view  seen  from  the  top.  The  view  is  as  varied  as  it  is  interesting.  On 
the  one  side  the  entire  range  of  the  western  summit  is  visible,  while  on  the  other 
there  is  the  broad  expanse  of  Tahoe  with  the  eastern  summit  beyond.  Twenty  moun- 
tain-lakes are  in  sight.  Their  mirror-like  surfaces,  reflecting  the  blue  sky  form  a  pleas- 
ant contrast  with  the  somber  hues  of  the  densely  timbered  ridges.  The  prominent 
features  of  the  country  lying  in  front  of  Tallac  Peak,  as  fir  as  Emerald  Bay,  have  al- 
ready been  mentioned.  Near  the  head  of  this  bay  is  a  knob  of  granite  called  the  Em- 
erald Isle,  which  is  150  feet  high  and  300  fet  t  long,  and  has  the  shape  of  a  pear.  There  U 
a  waterfall  about  50  feet  in  height,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Mr.  Holl-iday's  hou.se.  The 
canon  iu  which  the  inlet  of  Emerald  Bay  runs  is  very  pictures(iue.  It  is  narrow, 
windy,  and  the  walls  are  very  steep.  Climbmg  up  the  canon  for  half  a  mile  from 
the  bay  I  could  catch  a  glimpse  through  the  clusters  of  trees  of  several  small  cascades. 
At  Emerald  Bay  and  from  this  point  northward  the  rock  is  gray  granite  to  Sugar  Pine 
Point.  Near  Rubicon  Point  the  rock  contains  red  feldspar.  There  are  four  more  peaks 
belonging  to  the  Tallac  Peak  Ridge,  the  northeruiost  of  which  is  capped  by  a  sharp 
granite  turret.  This  feature  of  pea.ks  culminating  in  rocky  tors  occurs  elsewhere  iu 
the  western  summit.  The  ridge  becomes  very  narrow  at  the  head  of  the  creek 
emptying  into  Meigs's  Bay.  From  this  point  to  I5lackwood  Canoa  there  is  no  ro3k  in 
situ  within  from  a  half  to  one  mile  of  the  lake-shore.  The  mouutaiu  behind  MoKin- 
uey's  Station  is  basalt,  and  the  slopes  are  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  white  thorn 
and  manzanita.  Some  mineral  indications  have  been  found  iu  the  ridge  about  l^ 
miles  from  McKinuey's  and  1,000  feet  above  Lake  Tahoe  according  to  the  aneroid. 
The  ledge  was  discovered  in  July,  lfi76,  and  work  was  beguu  in  September.  It  is 
claimed  by  Mes3rs.  Niles,  Bellinger,  Sims,  and  Casey.  The  vein  runs  northwest  and 
southeast.  Iu  September,  1876,  two  men  were  working  at  an  opening  in  the  ledge  7 
feet  long  and  4  feet  wide.  No  aualysis  has  yet  been  made  of  the  ore,  but  it  is  said  to 
contain  nickel.  On  the  northea.st  side  of  this  mountain  is  Quail  Lake,  a  body  of  water 
having  an  area  of  about  an  acre,  and  400  feet  above  Lake  Tahoe.  Going  northward, 
the  rock  is  chiefly  basalt  as  far  as  Blackwood  Canon.  Blue  basalt  occurs  at  the  head 
of  this  canon. 

The  Twin  Peak  ridge  runs  from  this  point  north  to  Truckee  Canon.  Twin  Peaks  are 
just  north  of  Blackwood  Canon,  and  coasi'<t  of  basalt  and  diorite.  From  the  summit 
of  these  peaks  the  observer  beholds  many  V-shaped  canons  and  serrated  ridges.  Some 
of  the  mountains  have  the  dome  structure,  some  a'e  sharp  like  a  knife-edge,  others  are 
conical,  or  pyramid-shaped  or  have  the  forms  of  a  ?He8«.  Scattered  amoug  these  pic- 
turesque ridges  of  granitic  and  basaltic  rocks  are  a  iew  lonely  Alpine  lakes  in  cup-like 
basins.  Twin  Peaks  are  2,604  feet  above  Lake  Tahoe.  West  Twin  Peak  is  formed  of 
grayish  basalt.  The  greater  part  of  it  is  composed  of  myriads  of  horizontal  prisms 
tiveraging  about  9  inches  in  dianipfer,  which  decrease  in  size  as  the  base  is  approached. 
At  the  junction  of  the  East  and  West  Twin  Peaks  the  rock  is  daik-blue  porphyritic  ba- 
salt with  white  crystals  of  feldspar.  East  Twin  Peak  consists  of  gray  porous  diorite. 
The  whole  ridge  from  Blackwood  Canon  to  Tahoe  City  is  basalt,  of  gray  and  blue  colors. 
Very  little  granite  is  found  uorth  of  ihis  canon,  but  south  of  it  as  farasLake  Val.ey.  and 
from  200  to  500  feet  from  the  lake-shore,  many  bowlders  of  this  rock  having  a  rounded 
form  occur.  The  canon  of  the  Truckee  River  is  formed  of  ba-alt.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  canon,  in  leaving  Lake  Tahoe,  the  basalt  is  porous  and  .slightly  porphyritic. 
There  is  debris  on  the  north  wall  of  the  canon,  where  several  crags  of  basalt  outcrop. 
About  a  mile  from  Tahoe  City  the  Truckee  River  breaks  through  a  mass  of  pndding- 
btoue  basalt,  that  is  slightly  ferruginous.    Mauj'  conifers  and  some  quaking-aspens  grow 


APPENDIX    NN.  1295 

in  the  Trnckee  Caflon,  as  well  as  white  thorn  and  manzinihi.  Six  miles  from  the  en- 
trance of  the  canon,  Sqnaw  Valley  is  reached.  Sqnaw  Creek  flows  thronj;h  this  vallt-y, 
A\hich  lias  a  broad  fertile  floMd-plaiu.  At  the  head  of  the  valley  there  is  a  steep  i>reci- 
]»'ce  with  roncded  bases.  Thb  rock  is  ])or]>iiyritic  diorite.  The  sontherii  side  of  Sqnaw 
Valley  is  steeper  than  tlie  northern.  A  little  farther  down  the  Trnckee  Canon  is  Clara- 
ville,  the  site  of  an  abandoned  niinin<j  town.  Several  prospect-holes  are  seen  in  the 
north  wall  of  the  canon.  In  18015  a  populaiion  of  500  [)eoi»!e  {jatliered  at  this  point 
amid  }j;reat  excitement.  Soon  afterward  the  mines  <fave  ont,  and  it  is  diClicuit  now  to 
find  the  slijjhtest  vestiges  of  a  former  settlement.  The  Rold  occurred  in  placer-dij;j;inj^s. 
Beyond  Claraville  tlic  river  takes  a  northerly  course,  and  the  east  side  of  the  canon  is 
l)lne  basalt  as  far  as  Trnckee.  Tors  of  trachyte  30  feet  high  ontcrop  along  the  weeteru 
eide.  Near  the  fish  ranch  there  is  a  very  irregularly  formed  bntte  of  gray  basalt  hav- 
ing a  laminated  structure.  Tne  laminae  are  about  half  an  inch  thick.  The  rock  m 
both  sides  of  the  caHon  has  undergone  much  disintegration.  At  the  town  of  Truckeo 
coarse-grained  gray  granite  outcrops.  It  is  similar  to  the  lock  formii  g  the  greater 
part  of  the  western  summit. 

The  ridge  uorih  of  Trnckee  Canon  is  the  northernmost  on  the  western  side  of  Lr.ke 
Tahoe.  The  ridge  extends  as  far  as  a  line  drawn  through  the  town  of  Trnckee  and 
Washoe  Peak.  It  consists  principally  of  basalt  a*  d  phoncdite.  At  Tahoe  City  a  kind 
of  globuliferons  hasalt  occurs  on  the  clitijust  ncrthof  the  pt  st-othce.  The  lower 
)tart  of  it  has  heen  eroded  hy  the  waves  ot  the  lake  like  a  luadJaJ  d  on  a  sea-coast 
The  reck  is  some\>hat  fenuginous  and  much  decou^ posed.  It  crumbles  in  the  lingers. 
Near  Tahoe  City  porphyritic  {irauite,  containing  numerous  crystals  of  white  feldspar, 
is  found.  Compact  blui.sh  granite  occurs  at  Observatory  Point,  which  is  a  sjiur  of  the 
ridge  jirojecting  far  into  the  lake.  Beyond  this  point  gr;iy  phouolite  extends  along  the 
lake-shore  for 'i  miles  or  muie.  The  lemainder  of  the  ruige  consists  of  bluish  basalt 
as  far  north  as  Boca,  and  stretching  back  from  the  lake  for  several  miles.  Various 
spurs  diverge  innu  this  ridge.  The  crest  lines  are  often  dotted  with  turrets  of  basalt, 
and  a  vast  amount  of  debris  is  strewed  over  their  slopes.  Near  Wallace's  ranch,  5 
miles  southeast  of  Trnckee,  I  observed  basalt  similar  to  that  on  Lake  Tahoe.  A  fea- 
ture worth  mentioning  in  connection  with  the  geology  of  the  Western  summit  is  the 
absence  of  sedimentary  rocks.  No  fossils  are  Cound  by  which  one  can  determine  the 
position  of  these  archiean  and  igneous  rocks  in  the  geological  series. 

In  closing  a  report  on  the  geology  of  Lake  Tahoe  and  vicinity,  a  hrief  reference 
nuiy  be  made  to  the  lake  as  a  resort  for  tourists  and  pleasure-seekers.  Since  the  com- 
jdetion  of  the  Central  Pacilic  and  Virginia  and  Trnckee  Railroads,  Lake  Tahoe  has 
become  very  accessible.  A  small  steamer,  carrying  the  mail,  makes  a  daily  tour  of  the 
lake.  Theie  is  sufficient  hotel  accommodation  for  a  large  number  of  travelers.  Hote  Is 
have  heen  erected  at  the  iollo\\ing  points  on  the  lake:  Hot  Springs,  Gleubrook,  Kear- 
ney's, Kowlaud's,  Yanks,  McKiuney's,  and  Tahoe  City.  The  tinest  scenery  is  i'ound  in 
the  southwestern  corner  of  Lake  Tahoe,  near  Tallac  Peak.  There  is  no  ]iart  of  the 
United  Stati  s  that  surpasses  this  region  in  sceneiy.  In  n)y  extensive  travels  on  the 
continent  of  Europe  1  have  seen  hut  one  lake  moie  pictuiesque  than  Tahoe,  viz,  the 
lake  of  Luzerne,  in  Switzerland.  Grace  Greenwood,  writing  from  California,  says: 
"Tahoe  is  the  mo;-t  beautiful  lake  I  have  ever  beheld.  *  *  *  I  think  Lake  Tahoe 
must  yet  become  a  great  pleasure  resort.  I  have  seen  no  more  charming  spot  in  all  my 
tours  tor  a  summer's  rest  and  rambling." 

Respectfully  submitted. 

Alfred  R.  Conmcling. 

Lieut.  G.  M.  Wheeler, 

Corjyn  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


Appendix  H  1. 


REPORT   ON   THE  LITIIOLOOY   OF   PORTIONS  OF    SOUTHERN   COLORADO,   AND  NORTHERN 
NEW   MEXICO,    BY  A.  R.  CONKLING. 

New  York  City,  May  10  ,  1677. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  report  on  the  lithology  of  the  portions 
of  Southern  Colorado,  and  Northern  New  Mexico,  explored  by  me  in  tlie  tield-seas  on  of 
1875  : 

The  majority  of  the  rocks  occurring  in  this  region  are  of  igneous  origin.  They  cover 
large  areas  on  both  sides  of  tlie  Spanish  Range.  The  most  common  rocks  are  dolerite, 
basalt,  granite,  trachyte,  diorite,  granulite,  sandstone  and  limestotie.  Dolerite  occurs 
more  frtquently  than  any  other  species  ;  vesicular  doleiife  covers  large  tracts  of  coun- 
try, as  in  the  ])]ateau  bounding  the  San  Luis  Valley  on  tlie  west.  Com])act  bluish 
dolerite  is  found  in  the  buttes  near  Costilla  post  othce,  New  Mexico,  and  in  the  mesa 
northeast  of  Fort  Garland.  Olivine  is  found  in  the  dolerite  at  several  localities.  The 
basalt  is  usually  of  a  blue  color,  and  varies  in  texture  from  compact  to  scoriaccous. 


1296  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

In  some  places  this  rock  is  incrnstecl  with  calcite ;  and  in  the  amyor<^aloi(lal  varietiea 
the  cavities  are  occasionally  filled  with  zeolites.  Near  the  head  of  Uraca  Creek,  New- 
Mexico,  a  dark-brown  species  of  scoriaceons  basalt  occurs  havin<r  the  cavities  elon- 
gated and  very  narrow.  A  gray  variety  of  this  rock  is  found  altntidaiitly  near  Fort 
Union,  New  Mexico.  The  diorite  has  in  general  a  compact  texture,  but  considerable 
variety  of  color.  The  granite  presents  great  variety  in  both  color  and  textnre.  The 
various  colors  of  this  rock  observed  are  gray,  red,  pink,  light  and  dark  shades  of  bine, 
and  white:  reddish  granite  is  the  most  common,  on  accouut  of  the  feldspar  of  the 
same  color  being  the  })redominating  constituent.  The  varieties  in  ti'xture  observed  are 
compact,  grannlar,  aod  porphyri  ic,  and  the  latter  being  the  most  frequent.  The 
granite  is  generally  poor  in  mica,  although  a  micaceous  variety  of  this  roek  occurs 
just  west  of  the  Moreno  Valley,  New  Mexico.  The  feldspar  pori)hyry  usually  i>resents 
great  irregularity  in  the  size  of  the  crystals  imbedded  in  the  compact  matrix.  Tlie 
color  of  tliis  rock  is  commonly  gray,  occasionally  inclining  to  white.  Tbe  granu'ife  is 
in  general  of  a  reddish  color,  and  granular  in  texture.  Grannlite  and  granite  consti- 
tute the  predominating  rocks,  in  the  several  mountain  ranges  from  L:i  Veta  Pass  to 
Santa  Fe.  The  trachyte  presents  a  compact  texture  as  a  rule,  and  a  C'dor  varying 
from  light  gray  to  pink.  The  sandstone  is  generally  of  a  yellowish  color,  and  has  a 
fine-grained  strncture.  In  several  localities  the  rock  is  ferruginons  when  the  color 
becomes  biight  red.  Near  Costilla  peak  the  sandstouH  passtss  imo  a  coufjiomerate. 
The  fossilifercms  sandstones  have  been  described  in  the  geological  report.  The  lime- 
stone is  usually  light  blue  in  color,  atd  of  a  compact  texture.  Thi  -  rock  covers  a  large 
tract  of  country  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  area  explored  in  1875.  Besides  these 
rocks  may  he.  mentioned  clay-slate,  and  hornblende  por])hyry,  both  of  which  occur  in 
several  localities. 

The  paucity  of  crystaMine  schists  is  remarkable,  the  only  localities  being  near  Uraca 
Mountain,  '  n  Elizabeth  Baldy,  and  on  the  eastern  side  of  Antelope  Creek,  in  the  Wet 
Mountain  Valley.  A  haul  siliceous  variety  of  conglomerate  occurs  near  the  toi>  of  the 
sandstone  mesa  bounding  the  Vermejo  Valley  on  the  west.  The  matrix  of  this  rock 
is  dark  brown,  and  contains  Idack  and  white  fragments  of  quartz. 

In  order  to  determine  with  accnracy  those  rocks  having  a  texture  so  compact  that 
the  constituent  minerals  could  not  be  recognized  with  the  naked  eye,  I  h-ive  made 
sections  of  snch  rocks  that  were  deemed  desirable  to  prepare  for  microscopic  examina- 
tion. On  account  of  the  heterogeneous  texture  and  opacity  of  some  of  the  specimens 
of  rock,  much  time  and  labor  have  been  expended  in  preparing  them.  In  some  cases 
the  biittlecess  of  the  rock  rendered  it  impossible  to  make  a  section  sulliciently  hin 
for  microscopic  aiuilysis.  Such  was  Wie  case  with  some  specimens- of  trachyte  that 
were  interru[)ted  by  tissures.  The  rock  conld  be  ground  on  the  wheel  to  a  certain  de- 
gree of  tliinnes-*,  after  which  it  invariably  crumbled,  tlius  destroyiusj  the  section. 
Fifty  sections  of  rock  have  been  prepared  by  me,  and  monnted  on  glass  with  Canada 
balsam.  The  results  of  my  microscox)ical  iuvestigitions  may  be  condensed  iu  the  fol- 
lowing description : 

No.  1:59.  Uiorite,  from  Rio  Hondo,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  white  plagioclase,  and  a  few 
crystals  of  hornblende.     Much  olivine,  and  s[)ecks  of  nnignetite  occur  as  accessories. 

No.  144.  Basalt,  from  Rio  Colorado,  N.  Mex.,  containing  mnch  disseminated  greenish 
nepheline,  pyroxene,  and  specks  of  magnetite.     The  rock  is  slightly  anygdaloidal. 

No.  171.  Dolerite  from  Huerlano  Butte,  Colo.,  consisting  of  plagiocl  tse,  augite,  and 
much  olivine. 

No.  173.  Nei)heline-doleritefrom  west  side  of  Hnerfano  Butte,  Colo.,  containing  augite, 
nepheline,  and  particles  of  magnetite.     The  textnre  of  the  rock  is  very  compact. 

No.  174.  Diorite  from  Cucharas  River,  Colorado,  composed  of  hornblende  and  pla- 
gioclase.    Olivine  and  magnetite  occur  as  accessories. 

No.  190.  .Syenitic  granite  from  Ute  Creek,  New  Mexico,  contaiuii>g  quartz,  triclinic 
felflspar,  and  a  few  crystals  of  mica;  black  hornblende  is  abundantly  disseminated. 

No.  '20.').  Basalt,  from  uearLanghliu's  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  nepheline,  augite, 
and  some  olivine. 

No.  20(J.  Dolerite  from  East  Spanish  Peak,  Colo.,  made  up  of  iilagioclase  and  py- 
roxene. 

No.  '207.  Granite  from  head  of  Cimarron  Creek,  New  Mexico,  composed  of  reddish 
orthoclase,  gr;iins  of  quartz,  ninscovite,  and  specks  of  magnetite.  A  few  crystals  of  a 
black  mineral  occur  which  may  be  melanite. 

No.  "208.  Syenite,  from  Cieneguilla  Valley,  N.  Mex.,  containing  plagioclase,  bora- 
blende  and  many  grains  of  quartz. 

No.  '210,  Dolerite,  from  Rider's  Canon,  Colo.,  composed  of  plagioclase,  many  crystals 
of  augite,  and  specks  of  magnetite. 

No.  '211.  Diorite,  from  near  Taos  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  hornblende,  plagioclase, 
and  a  few  grains  of  quartz. 

No.  '216.  Dolerite,  from  San  Luis  Valley,  CaL,  containing  plagioclas3,  brownish  pyrox- 
ene, and  a  few  particUs  of  mica. 

No.  '217.  Dolerite,  from  Colorado  Canon,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  crystals  of  augite, 
plagioclase,  aud  specks  of  magnetite.    The  rock  has  a  porphyritic  strncture. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1297 

No.  225.  Trachyte,  from  Eosita,  Colo.,  composed  chiefly  of  plagiodase  and  a  little 
sanidiiio.     A  few  grains  of  ang'te  and  majjnetite  also  occvir. 

No.  227.  Trachyte,  from  Taos  Rano;(>,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  sanidine  and  plagioclass, 
Tvith  streaks  of  angite  and  a  few  spccl<s  of  magnetite. 

No.  229.  Trachydolerite,  from  liead  of  Moreno  Valley,  N.  Mex.,  including  crystals  of 
augite,  plagioclase,  and  irreguhirly-detiued  crystals  of  mica,  as  well  as  black  specks  of 
magnetite. 

No.  215:5.  Dolerite,  from  Sau  Luis  Valley,  Colo.,  containing  augite  and  many  crystals 
of  plagioclase. 

No.  2:57.  Dolerite,  from  near  Gardner,  Colo.,  consisting  of  large  crystals  of  augite, 
plagioclase,  and  specks  of  magnetite. 

No.  2:59.  Dolerite,  from  Cerro  Blanco,  Colo.,  containing  plagioclast^  and  augite. 

No.  242.  Domire,  from  Laughlin's  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  coubisting  chieOy  of  plagioclase 
and  a  few  crystals  of  angite. 

No.  2.")1.  Andcsite,  from  East  Spanish  Peak,  Colo.,  containing  plagioclase,  a  few 
crystals  of  pyroxenr",  specks  of  magnetite,  and  dark  colored  mica. 

No.  255.  Dolerite,  from  Comanche  Creek,  New  Mexico,  composed  of  plagioclase,  augite, 
and  a  few  particles  of  olivine. 

No.  258.  Dolerite,  from  Costilla  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  containing  crystals  of  augite,  plagio- 
clase, and  si)ecks  of  magnetite. 

No.  259.  Dolerite,  from  East  Spanish  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  augite  and  plagio- 
clase. 

No.  2()0.  Dolerite,  from  head  of  Indian  Creek,  Colorado,  composed  of  grains  and  crys- 
tals of  plagioclase  and  augite. 

No.  261.  Dolerite,  from  South  Fork  of  Cucharas  River,  Colorado,  containing  augite, 
plagioclase,  and  a  green  mineral,  which  is  probably  olivine. 

No.  264.  Syenite,  from  Taos  Range,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  quartz,  crystals  of  horn- 
blende, plagioclase,  and  opaque  particles  that  arc  probably  magnetite. 

No.  267.  Dolerita,  from  Moreno  Valley,  N.  Mex.,  containing  augite,  plagioclase,  and 
specks  of  magnetite.     Pyrite  occurs  abundantly  as  an  accessory. 

No.  268.  Quartz,  porphyry  from  ridge  of  Golconda  mine,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  plagio- 
clase and  quartz. 

No.  269.  Dolerite,  from  San  Antonio  Canon.  N.  Mex.,  containing  many  microliths  of 
plagioclase,  grains  of  augite,  and  specks  of  n)agnetite. 

No.  271.  Granite  from  head  of  Purgatoire  River,  Colorado,  composed  of  quartz,  oligo- 
clase,  and  a  few  crystals  of  mica,  and  small  particles  of  an  opaque  mineral  that  is 
probably  magnetite. 

No.  275.  Granite,  from  Taos  Range,  N.  Mex.,  containing  qnartz,  orthoclase,  mica,  and 
a  few  grains  of  hornblende. 

No.  288.  Rbyolite,  from  ridge  east  of  Costilla  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  cons'sting  of  plagioclase, 
some  qnartz,  and  crystals  of  magnetite. 

No.  291.  Audesite,  fi'om  Cerro  Blanco,  Colo.,  composed  chiefly  of  plagioclase,  a  few 
crystals  of  augite,  and  many  particles  of  magnetite. 

No.  292.  Andesite,  from  Taos  Raage,  N.  Mex.,  containing  a  few  crystals  of  augite, 
plagioclase,  specks  of  magnetite,  and  a  little  mica. 

No.  293.  Dolerite,  from  Colorado  Canon,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  plagioclase,  many  crys- 
tals of  augite,  and  some  olivine. 

No.  294.  Dolerite,  from  Elizabeth  Baldy,  N.  Mex.,  containing  grains  of  augite,  plagi- 
oclase, and  magnetite. 

No.  295.  Dolerite,  from  top  of  Costilla  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  composed  of  plagioclase,  augite, 
olivine,  and  crystals  of  magnetite. 

No.  298.  Diorite,  from  Costilla  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  consi.sticg  of  crystals  of  hornblende 
plagioclase,  much  olivine,  and  specks  of  magnetite. 

No.  299.  Diorite,  from  Walsenburg,  Colo.,  containing  plagioclase,  hornblende,  and 
some  di-sseminated  mica. 

No.  :301.  Andesite,  from  LFraca  Creek,  New  Mexico,  composed  of  plagioclase,  crystals  of 
augite,  and  specks  of  magnetite. 

No.  :302.  Basalt,  from  tower  near  head  of  Cucharas  River,  Colorado,  consisting  of 
nepheline,  crysrals  of  angite,  and  particles  of  magnetite. 

No.  345.  Diorite,  from  a  point  just  west  of  Laughlin's  Peak,  N.  Mex.,  containing  plagi- 
oclase, hornblende,  some  olivine,  and  magnetite. 

No.  ;384.  Dolerite,  from  Uraca  Creek,  New  Mexico,  comprising  augite,  plagioclase,  and 
many  specks  of  magnetite. 

No.  385.  Dolerite,  from  Rio  Grande,  New  Mexico,  containing  augite  and  crystals  of 
plagioclase. 

No.  386.  Dolerite,  from  head  of  Cucharas  River,  Colorado,  made  up  of  crystals  of  plagi- 
oclase, augite,  and  specks  of  magnetite. 

No.  388.  Dolerite,  from  mesa  northeast  of  Fort  Garland,  Colo.,  composed  of  many  fine 
crystals  of  plagioclase,  and  well-defined  crystals  of  augite.  This  rock  resembles  closely 
No.  233.    They  are  not  more  than  10  miles  apart. 

82  E 


1298        REPOET  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

No.  394.  Dolerite,  from  Costilla  Canon,  N.  Mex.,  consisting  of  ijyroxcno  and  i)lagio' 
clase. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Alfred  R.  Conkling. 
Lieut.  Gkorgr  M.  Wheeler, 

Corps  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


Washington,  D.  C,  June  30,  1877. 
The  followinji:  inuuuscript,   prepared  by  Mr.   A.   E,.   Couklin^ij,  and 
received  too  late  to  be  forwarded  with  the  auuual  report  of  1876,  is 
herewith  submitted. 

Geo.  M.  Wheeler, 
Lieutenant  of  Engineers. 

Appendix  H2. 

report  on  the  foot-hills  facing  the  plains  from  latitude  35°  30'  to  38° 
approximately,  by  mr.  a.  r.  conkling. 

Beginning  at  Las  Vegas,  New  Mexico,  which  is  just  east  of  the  foot  hills,  we  have 
the  rolling  prairie  extending  as  far  as  Fort  Union,  28  miles  northeast,  without  any 
marked  elevation.  The  foot-hills  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Las  Vegas  range  consist  of 
grayish  sandstone,  horizontally  stratified.  Upon  approaching  Fort  Union  broad  mesas 
of  moderate  elevation  lie  in  front  of  the  foot-hills.  These  mesas  are  also  composed  of 
sandstone.  At  the  head  of  the  Rio  Mora,  a  grayish  mass  of  eruptive  granite  has  broken 
through  the  sandstone.  In  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Union  extensive  dikes  of  basalt  occur. 
The  western  limit  of  the  basalt  is,  according  to  my  observations,  at  Torquillo,  which 
lies  about  17  miles  west  of  Fort  Union.  Easalt  occurs  on  the  plain  lyiug  north  of  the 
fort.  It  covers  the  sui-face  as  far  as  Ocate  Crater,  which  is  just  13  miles  north.  With 
the  exception  of  the  basaltic  lava  of  Ocate  Crater,  the  basalt  is  invariably  of  a  dark 
blue  color  and  scoriaceous  texture.  Ocate  Crater  or  Mountain  is  8,902  feet  above  the 
sea-level.  It  is  longer  from  north  to  south  than  from  east  to  west.  The  summit  is 
bowl-shaped,  with  the  opening  on  the  west  side.  The  slopes,  and  even  the  interior  of 
the  crater,  are  covered  with  grass,  while  on  the  northwestern  side  there  is  soil  enough 
to  support  a  small  growth  of  pinons  and  cedars.  The  northern  slopes  of  the  mountain 
are  impassable  for  animals,  but  a  mule  can  be  ridden  to  the  summit  by  way  of  the 
south  side.  The  land  slopes  very  gradually  south  of  the  crater.  There  is  a  low  butte 
of  basalt  on  the  southwest.  The  major  part  of  the  basaltic  lava  on  the  plain  of  Fort 
Union  has  probablj'  come  from  the  Ocate  Mountain.  There  is  much  variety  in  the 
lava  of  Ocate.  The  color  of  the  lava  varies  from  bright  red  to  brownish  black,  and  the 
texture  is  generally  vesicular,  though  also  compact  and  scoriaceous  in  some  cases.  The 
reddish  lava  has  so  many  crystals  and  arains  of  white  leucite  disseminated  through  it 
as  to  present  a  porphyritic  structure.  Between  Ocate  Mountain  and  Fort  Union  there 
is  a  broad  and  low  mesa  of  basalt,  which  is  bordered  on  the  west  by  a  luesa  of  gray 
sandstone.  On  the  souihern  part  of  the  Fort  Union  reservation  blue  limestone  out- 
crops, dipping  vtry  slightly  to  the  southwest.  Fossil  shells,  of  the  genus  [noceramus, 
are  found  in  the  limestone,  which,  according  to  Professor  White,  are  of  cretaceous  age. 
On  the  ordnance  reservation,  one  mile  west  of  the  post,  a  well  has  been  sunk  to  the 
depth  of  78  feet.     The  following  section  will  illustrate  the  geological  structure  at  this 

place : 

feet. 

Clay - 17 

Soft  yellow  sandstone 6 

Decomposed  lava 6 

Basalt 37 

Red  volcanic  scoria 4 

Sandstone  and  gravel 8 

The  well  adjoins  Captain  Shumaker's  quarters. 

ORE  DEPOSITS  NEAR  FORT  UNION. 

There  are  a  few  deposits  of  ore  near  Fort  Union,  but  none  of  them  are  workable.  In 
the  Turkey  Mountains,  abouc  9  miles  from  the  fort,  ground  has  been  broken,  where 
some  malachite,  or  rather  rock  stained  by  green  carbonate  of  copper,  has  been  found. 
There  is  a  single  shafc  at  present,  about  30  feet  deep,  which  is  partially  tilled  with  water. 
The  cupriferous  rock  occurs  in  a  vein  2|  feet  wide  at  the  surface  and  G  feet  wide  at  the 
bottom  of  the  shaft.  The  lode  runs  north  and  south,  and  occurs  in  red  sandstone.  At 
several  other  localities  ground  has  been  broken  in  the  hope  of  finding  valuable  miu- 


APPENDIX    NN.  1299 

erals,  but  all  without  avail.  At  one  time  placer-mining  was  carried  on  for  a  few  days 
in  one  of  the  gnlches  of  the  Turkey  Mountains.  Gold  was  found  in  small  qunntitie.s 
amid  intense  excitement.  By  the  time  a  large  crowd  of  miners  had  been  collected 
about  the  spot  the  placers  gave  out.  It  is  my  opinion  that  the  gulch  was  simply 
"  salted."  At  Coyote,  about  14  miles  from  Fort  Union,  traces  of  copper  have  been  found 
half  a  mile  north  of  the  town.  Ore  was  first  discovered  here  in  the  summer  of  18()6. 
luthe  same  year  a  mining  company  was  organized  with  Kit  Carson  as  presidcmt  and 
J.  B.  Collier  as  vice-president.  There  was  no  definite  capital,  but  small  personal  assess- 
ments were  made  to  begin  work.  There  is  a  vein  about  4  feet  wide  occurring  in  gray 
micaceous  sandstone,  havinggeneral  directio!i  from  northeast  to  southwest.  This  vein 
contains  a  little  malachite  and  azurite,  and  is  traceable  at  intervals  for  the  distance  of 
a  quarter  of  a  mile.  At  one*  point  a  shaft  22  feet  deep  has  been  sunk.  At  another 
point,  on  the  ridge  near  the  summit,  a  slope  has  been  driven  about  40  feet  in  the  sand- 
stone rock.     Both  these  places  had  been  abandoned  at  the  time  of  my  visit. 

Just  east  of  the  plain  of  Fort  Union  are  the  Turkey  Mountains.  The  height  of  the 
ridge  above  the  plain  is  about  700  feet,  and  the  length  is  perhaps  1.5  miles.  The  mount- 
ains are  composed  of  grayish  sandst  me,  horizontally  stratified,  with  numerous  vertical 
joints.     The  ridge  runs  northwest  and  southwest,  and  is  much  broken  up  by  cahons. 

The  formation  between  Fort  Union  and  the  Canaiian  Kiver  is  both  igneous  and  sedi- 
mentary. Directly  northeast  of  the  Turkey  Mountains  a  large  number  of  bnttes  and 
mesas  of  basalt  occur.  Must  of  the  buttes  are  conical  in  shape  and  rounded  on  toj), 
but  a  few  have  the  tnrreted  form.  Many  of  the  mesas  have  a  perpendicular  border  of 
basalt  about  10  feet  thick,  and  slopes  slanting  very  gradually  on  some  sides  and  quite 
abruptly  on  the  others. 

About  1.')  miles  east  of  the  Turkey  Mountains  limestone  outcrops,  containing  a  species 
of  ammonites,  which  Professor  White  informs  me  belongs  to  the  cretaceous.  A  zone  of 
cretaceous  limestone  appears  to  lie  between  the  basalt  on  the  west,  and  horizontally 
stratified  sandstone  ou  the  east.  But  my  observations  in  this  section  of  country 
were  too  limited,  by  the  rapid  daily  marches,  to  enable  me  to  define  the  limits  of  this 
zone  either  on  the  north  or  south.  Nearing  the  Canadian  River,  sandstone  again  out- 
crops, containing  fossil  angiospermous  leaves,  identical  with  those  occurring  in  the 
sandstone  near  Trinidad,  about  65  miles  farther  north.  The  Canadian  River  has  cut  a 
channel  in  the  sandstone  about  300  feet  deep.  There  is  a  little  soil  alongside  the  river 
in  the  bottom  of  the  canon.  The  country  lying  east  of  the  Canadian  is  a  rolling 
prairie  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  On  the  west  side  of  the  Canadian  the'  country  is 
much  broken  up  by  canons  and  ravines,  rendering  it  well-nigh  impassable.  From  the 
Canadian,  our  route  lay  northeast  over  a  rolling  prairie,  with  an  occasional  low  mesa 
to  break  the  monotony  of  the  plains,  until  the  basaltic  country  in  the  vicinity  of 
Laughlin's  Peak  was  reached.  Amygdaloidal  basalt,  with  particles  of  white  calcite  in 
the  cavities,  covers  the  country  ou  both  sides  of  the  Santa  F6  road,  from  a  few  miles 
east  of  the  Canadian  River  to  beyond  Laughlin's  Peak.  The  geological  formation  of 
L/^ughlin'sPeak  is  peculiar.  It  is  a  mass  of  pinkish  traohytd  breaking  through  a  plain 
of  basalt.  The  mountain  is  8,949  feet  above  the  sea.  The  slopes  are  covered  with 
grass,  and  the  summit  has  a  depression  like  a  crater.  Some  of  the  basaltic  buttes  east 
of  Laughliu's  Peak  are  very  perfect  iu  outline.  All  of  th^m  have  a  moderate  height. 
Sometiuies  tae  buttes  are  akered  t)  ridgy,  saddle-shaped  hills,  a  form  which  volcanic 
cones  have  frequently  been  observed  to  assume  by  degradation.  There  are  no  lava 
bombs,  lapilli,  volcanic  sand,  or  ashes,  as  in  the  extinct  volcanoes  of  Central  France. 
The  basalt  is  usually  in  sitU:  Very  little  water  occurs  in  this  basaltic  country.  One  can 
travel  miles  without  finding  running  water,  aud  the  only  animals  seen  are  occasional 
herds  of  antelope  that  roam  over  the  plain. 

On  the  north  side  of  Laughliu's  Peak  a  mesa-like  ridge,  with  precipitous  sides,  runs 
north  as  far  as  Trinidad,  about  28  miles  distant.  This  is  the  Ratcjn  mesa.  Oa  the  west 
side  of  Laughlin's  Peak  a  hard,  grayish  slate  outcrops,  which  is  overlaid  by  a  bed  of 
loose  black  shale.  The  dip  of  both  these  rocks  is  slightly  to  the  southwest.  The 
shale  outcrops  again  at  a  point  about  5  nules  west,  but  I  was  unable  to  trace  the  beds 
any  farther.  A  narrow  dike  of  basalt  has  broken  through  the  shale  about  half  a  mile 
from  Hole-in-the-Rock.  At  Hole-iu-the-Rock,  which  by  the  bye  is  meiiely  a  break  in  the 
strata  that  has  been  denuded  so  as  to  leave  a  gap,  the  sandstone  with  horizontal  strat- 
ification outcrops  again,  presenting  the  same  lithological  character  as  the  sandstone 
in  the  foot-hills  a  few  miles  farther  west.  No  fossils  were  found.  The  thickness  of 
the  exposed  strata  was  not  more  than  30  feet.  Ou  account  of  the  rapid  progress  through 
this  section  of  country  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  define  the  limits  of  the  sandstone. 
Dikes  of  basalt  have  in  many  places  broken  through  and  sometimes  overlaid  thissaud- 
stone.  Mesas  of  vesicular  basalt  cover  the  country  for  15  miles  west  of  Laughlin's 
Peak.  Tenaja  Creek  has  cut  a  canon  in  the  mesa,  which  is  known  as  Bragg's  Canon. 
On  the  lower  part  of  Teneja  Creek  a  bed  of  gray  laminated  slate  outcrops,  dipping 
very  gently  to  the  west.  Between  this  creek  and  the  foot-hills  of  the  Cimarron  Range 
the  country  is  rolling  prairie  without  any  rock  in  situ.  The  Canadian  River  forms  the 
dividing-line  between  the  igueous  rock  on  the  east  ami  the  sedimentary  rock  on  the 
west.     This  refers  only  to  the  upper  part  of  the  river.     The  foot-hills  from  Foit  Union 


1300 


REPORT.   OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 


to  Ciniarron  consist  of  sandstoae,  except  in  the  vicinity  of  Uraca  Peak,  where  basalt 
occurs. 

Accin-iliug  to  Da  Groat,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Rayado  Valley  a  marly-limestone 
formation  occurs  near  the  basalt.  The  limestone  is  suitable  for  making  lime,  and  it  is 
burned  in  limekilns  built  of  blocks  of  basalt.  The  limestone  has  also  been  used  for 
building.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the  Maxwell  grant  the  same  limestone  ft)rmatiou 
which  outcrops  at  the  entrance  of  the  Rayado  Valley  extends  from  a  point  just  north 
of  Amis  Ranch  to  Rock  Ranch.  The  breadth  of  the  limestone  is  about  8  miles,  along 
the  easterly  boundary  of  the  grant. 

From  Cimarron  to  Trinidad  the  geology  is  quite  simple.  Sandstone,  of  a  color  vary- 
ing from  white  to  gray  or  yellow,  with  horizontal  stratification,  covers  this  section  of 
country.  These  foot-hills  are  densely  wooded  with  conifers  and  much  broken  up  by 
canons.  Various  creeks,  rising  in  the  Cimarron  Range,  flow  through  the  foot-hills, 
having  cut  broad  canons  with  steep  sides.  These  main  canons  have  in  turn  many  lat- 
eral canons.  At  Crow  Creek,  12  miles  from  Red  River,  some  invertebrate  fossils  were 
found.  A  species  of  Inoceramus  and  a  fragment  of  a  shell  belonging  to  the  genus 
Mudisles  were  cdlected.  According  to  Professor  White  these  fossils  are  cretaceous. 
This  fact,  together  with  the  occurrence  of  cretaceous  fossils  at  other  localities  in  the 
foot-hills,  iniiicates  that  they  were  formed  during  the  Cretaceous  age.  Seams  of  lignite 
occur  in  the  sandstone  at  various  p  liuts.  Remains  of  plants,  particularly  the  leaves 
of  angiospermous  trees,  are  common  in  the  rock  where  lignite  is  found.  But  it  is 
impossible  to  determine  with  certainty  the  age  of  the  lignite-beds  without  some  other 
guide  than  these  fossil  leaves.  Prof.  J.  J.  Stevenson,  formerly  connected  with  the 
Geographical  and  Geological  Surveys  west  of  the  Hundredth  Meridian,  has  shown  that 
fossil  leaves  are  utterly  unreliable  in  stratigraphical  geology.  I  therefore,  in  view  of 
the  occurrence  of  invertebrate  fossils,  feel  justified  in  expressing  the  opinion  that  the 
foot-hills  from  Fort  Union  to  Trinidad  belong  to  the  Cretaceous  age.  _In  the  vicinity 
of  Trinidad  these  fossil  leaves  are  very  common.  A  number  of  specimens  were  col- 
lected, but  they  have  not  as  yet  been  determined.  It  may  be  stated  that  among  the 
leaves  collected  are  those  of  the  oak,  maple,  and  poplar. 

As  regai"ds  the  beds  of  lignite  mentioned  above,  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  work 
any  of  them,  as  far  as  I  could  ascertain.  If  limestone  occurred  iu  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  lignite,  the  latter  could  be  worked  f  r  the  purpose  of  making  lime  ;  but 
as  there  is  no  lignite  nearer  than  50  miles  to  the  limestone,  it  is  evident  that  it  would 
not  be  expedient  to  transport  the  brown  co  il  such  a  distance.  The  lignite  is  very 
brittle.  In  most  places  it  crumbles  so  easily  that  it  is  difficult  to  collect  a  specimen 
that  was  not  in  the  form  of  powder. 

Several  seams  of  lignite  occur  on  the  western  side  of  the  Venuejo  Canon.  The  fol- 
lowing section  will  illustrate  their  mode  of  occurrence : 

00  feet  of  sandstone. 
3  feet  of  siliceous  conglomerate. 
25  feet  of  yellow  sandstone. 
1  foot  of  lignite. 
30  feet  of  limonite  or  hydrous  oxide  of  iron. 
.  10  feet  of  lignite. 
20  feet  of  sandstone. 
10  feet  of  limonite. 
15  feet  of  lignite. 
75  feet  of  yellow  sandstone. 
100  feet  of  sandstone  covered  by  a  sandy  soil. 
It  will  be  observed  that  veins  of  limonite  occur  in 
connection  with  the  lignite  or  brown  coal. 

A  stratum  of  hard  siliceous  conglomerate,  about  4 
feet  thick,  runs  through  the  sandstone  near  the  top 
of  the  mesa,  about  6  miles  north  of  Vermejo  Post- 
Office.  The  rock  is  fine-grained,  and  has  a  brownish 
color. 

Bituminous  coal  occurs  at  Trinidad.  The  outcrops 
of  the  coal  are  either  in  the  Raton  plateau,  just  south 
of  the  town,  or  on  the  west,  4  miles  from  the  town, 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  Purgatoire  River.  The 
principal  deposit  of  coal  occurs  at  a  point  3  miles 
south  of  Trinidad,  near  the  Santa  Fe  road.  The 
vein  runs  north  and  south,  and  has  a  width  varying 
from  9  to  12  feet,  with  an  average  thickness  of  5  feet 
according  to  the  statement  of  Mr.  James,  the  super- 
intendent of  the  mine.  This  vein  is  traced  for  a  length  of  2  miles  on  the  north,  and 
outcroi>s  on  the  north  side  of  the  Raton  Mountain.  The  coal  is  underlaid  by  a  bed  of 
yellow  sandstone.  A  layer  of  limonite  about  2  feet  thick  overlies  the  coal  at  the  jdace 
-where  it  is  mined.    The  coal  is  said  to  be  free  from  pyrites. 


iiiinnM 


APPENDIX   NN.  1301 

According  to  Mr.  James,  there  are  nine  good  workable  veins  of  coal  in  tbe  vicinity 
of  Trinidad,  all  of  which  have  the  same  general  direction.  The  coal  is  mined  with  the 
ordinary  pick,  and  carried  out  in  a  hand-oar  running  on  a  tramway.  A  tunnel  about 
5  feet  wide,  and  not  l)igh  enough  to  allow  a  man  to  walk  uprightly,  has  been  driven  iu 
the  mountain  to  work  the  coal.  This  tunnel  is  about  150  feet  long.  Tbe  coal  is  sold 
for  Al.fjO  per  ton  at  the  mine.  Goke  is  made  and  sold  for  $(.!  per  ton  at  the  mine.  The 
coke  is  transported  iu  ox-teams  to  Denver,  where  it  is  sold  for  .$19  per  ton.  At  the 
time  of  my  visit  (June,  18/.'))  but  three  mineis  were  working  at  tbe  mine.  This  min- 
eral property  is  said  to  be  owned  by  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railroad  Company. 
The  vein  of  ccal  outcroi>ping  on  tbePurgatoire  River,  4  miles  west  of  Trinidad,  is  about 
4  feet  thick,  and  underlaid  by  shaly  sandstone  destitute  of  fossils.  The  coal  is  some 
25  feet  above  tbe  level  of  the  river.  The  strata  <lip  gently  to  the  west  at  this  point. 
But  little  work  has  been  done  at  this  locality.  There  are  a  few  abandoned  openings 
of  coal.  Limouite  outcrops  on  the  Santa  Fe  road  within  3  miles  of  Trinidad,  but  none 
of  the  iron-ores  iu  this  vicinity  have  been  worked  yet.  Labor  is  cheap  and  abundant. 
A  writer  in  the  New  York  Sun  states  that  there  are  1,000  square  miles  of  coal  iu  the 
neighborhood  of  Trinidad,  aud  now,  (1876,)  since  the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railroad 
is  completed  as  far  as  this  to»vn,  there  appears  to  lie  no  reason  why  Eastern  and  Cen- 
tral Colorado  cannot  be  supplied  with  coal  from  Trinidad.  As  regards  the  age  of  this 
coal  I  am  in  doubt.  It  is  either  Tertiary  or  Cretaceous,  but  which  of  these  I  am 
unable  to  say. 

Fossil  leaves  are  abundant  in  the  sandstone  a  few  miles  from  Trinidad,  but  I  have 
already  stated  that  these  leaves  are  not  reliable.  No  invertebrate  fossils  were  found 
within  less  than  30  miles  from  Trinidad.  But  as  the  foot-hills  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  Spanish  Range  belong  to  the  Cretaceous  age,  according  to  my  observations,  it  is 
possible  that  the  foot-hills  contaiuing  the  Trinidad  coal  belong  to  the  same  j)eriod. 
However,  I  am  not  justilied  iu  expressing  an  opinion  on  this  question. 

THE   COAL  OF   THE   SIAXWELL  LAND-GRANT. 

What  I  have  written  in  the  sufcceeding  pages  about  the  coal  of  the  Maxwell  gran^ 
has  been  translated  from  the  pamphlet  of  Messr«.  De  Groot  and  Leembruggen,  published 
in  the  Dutch  language,  at  the  Hague,  in  1874.  My  imperfect  knowledge  of  this  foreign 
tongue  has  been  a  constant  drawback  to  me.  Still  it  is  believed  that  some  interesting 
facts  will  be  found  iu  the  translation.  It  is  my  opinion  that  this  coal  belongs  to  the 
Cretaceous  age,  reasoning  from  the  fact  that  I  have  referred  the  foot-hills  in  which  this 
coal  formation  occurs  to  the  same  age.  I  have  been  unable  to  find  any  expression  of 
opinion  on  the  geological  age  of  the  coal  in  the  above-mentioned  work.  I  will  now 
quote  the  principal  part  of  the  description  of  the  c«al  formation  given  by  Messrs.  De 
Groot  and  Leembruggen : 

"The  coal  formation  extends  from  the  Cimarron  River  northward  to  the  northern 
boundaries  of  the  grant  in  the  Territory  of  Colorado.  On  the  west  the  boundaries  of 
this  formation  run  half  a  mile  east  of  Ute  Creek,  along  the  Ponil  Park,  Van  Bremmer 
Park,  Francisco  Pass,  and  Francisco  Park,  to  the  northern  limits  of  the  grant.  On  the 
east  the  coal  formation  i^  bounded  by  mesas  and  by  the  '  plains,'  which  are  covered  with 
Quaternary  deposits  as  far  as  the  Cimarron  River.  On  this  eastern  part  of  the  grant 
the  strata  of  the  coal-formation,  aud  the  coal-beds  occurring  therein,  lie  horizontally, 
while  those  beds  iu  the  western  part  which  rest  on  motamorphic  rock  have  a  moderate 
dip  of  at  most  10°  to  1.5'^  with  the  horizon.  This  coal-field  appears  to  have  undergone 
a  gentle  and  slow  upheaval. 

"  In  the  western  part  of  the  grant  the  ridges  of  hills  have  a  moderate  height,  the 
rangeof  mountains  is  circular,  aud  the  valleys,  which  are  likewise  circular,  pass  on  both 
sides  gradually  into  the  hills.  Faults  of  minor  importance  have  occurred  here.  Whtn 
one  enters  the  valleys  from  tbe  eastward  a  large  quarry  is  presented  to  the  eye,  wherein 
the  component  beds  of  the  coal-formation  are  exposed  in  nearly  vertical  walls.  In  this 
locality  the  valleys  are  wider,  and  the  dislocations  iu  the  strata  have  been  the  greatest. 
Undoubtedly  the  coal-formation  extends  under  the  plains  on  the  east,  but  within  the 
grant  it  does  not  come  to  the  suiface,  it  being  covered  with  alluvium. 

"  In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  grant,  granite  and  gneiss  rocks  have  been  upheaved, 
which  have  partly  overlaid  the  westerly  edge  of  the  coal-formation,  and  exerted  a 
favorable  influeuce  on  the  coal  occurring  therein,  but  the  rocks  have  also  broken 
through  a  part  of  this  coal-formation,  and  overlaid  a  region  4  or  5  miles  broad.'  Iu 
this  area  the  rocks  have  undergone  considerable  change,  which  has  resulted  in  the  for- 
mation of  quartzite-,  hard  shales,  clay  schist,  aud  sandstone.  These  metamorphic 
rocks  occur  along  the  western  end  of  the  coal-formation,  while  more  westerly  the  gran- 
ite and  gneiss  rocks  are  found,  which  were  the  cause  of  the  metamorphism.  We  can 
never  say  with  certainty  how  far  the  coal-formation  extends  outside  the  limit  of  the 
.grant,  but  it  is  certain  that  it  extends  east  from  the  Spani-h  Peaks,  and  that  coal  has 
been  worked  within  from  2  to  4  miles  of  Trinidad,  iu  the  vicinity  of  boundaries  of  the 


1302        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

Maxwell  grant.  The  mesas  which  occur  in  the  northern  and  eastern  boundaries  of  the 
coal-fonuation  consist  of  basalt,  and  belong  to  the  Fisher's  Peak,  a  basaltic  mountain 
that  has  the  genuine  '  trap '  form,  and,  together  witli  the  mesas  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  Maxwell  grant,  belongs  to  the  Raton  Mountains,  which,  on  the  northern 
part  of  the  grant,  extend  east  and  west,  and  continue  on  the  eastward  for  26  miles  be- 
yond the  grant. 

"  The  basaltic  mass  of  the  mesas  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  grant  also  outcrops 
in  various  little  mesas,  but  it  has  tilled  besides  many  fissuies  in  the  coal-fornuition, 
and  accordingly  comes  to  the  surface  in  dikes.  Wherever  this  has  taken  place  in  the 
coal-formation  the  basalt  has  metamorphosed  the  rock  and  the  coal  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood.  In  one  place  in  Red  River,  7  miles  in  the  valley  above  the  Red  River  Sta- 
tion, the  basalt  has  broken  through  a  coal-bed  2  feet  thick  horizontally,  overlying 
merely  a  ^^mall  part  of  the  metamorphosed  coal,  and  where  the  basalt  has  destroyed  the 
coal  the  s[)ace  is  filled  with  a  basaltic  mass.  This  metamorphosed  coal  is  graphite,  in 
some  places  very  pure  graphite,  that  can  be  developed  in  crder  to  be  used  for  crucibles, 
for  greasing  tools,  or  for  diminishing  friction.  The  basalt  has  done  but  little  damage  in 
the  coal-formation,  and  it  is  certain  that  the  rock  has  been  penetrated  by  the  heat  de- 
veloped thereby  ;  it  has  also  co-operated  to  enhance  the  good  properties  of  the  coal  as 
fuel.  The  coal-beds  outcrop,  especially  on  the  western  edge  of  the  coal-formation,  and 
likewise  in  all  the  valleys  of  the  creeks  which  run  through  thisfoi-mation.  There  are 
three  localities  where  the  coal-beds  have  been  developed  and  investigated.  A  descrip- 
tion of  them  will  now  be  given. 

"  SECTION   IN   THE    P05flL  VALLEY. 

"Three  miles  from  the  plains  in  the  Ponil  Valley,  and  5  miles  from  Cimarron,  abont 
6,900  feet  above  sea-level,  a  section  of  the  coal  is  exposed  on  both  sidts  of  the  Ponil 
Creek.  The  coal-bed  is  4  feet  thick,  and  consists  of  pure  coal  without  bands  of  clay. 
It  is  inclosed  by  1  foot  top-clay  and  by  2  feet  under-clay.  The  clay  and  sandstone  beds 
that  lie  above  the  coal  have  sufficient  firmness  to  rest  on  large  openings  without  cav- 
ing in,  while  the  quartzose  clay  sandstone  that  lies  under  the  coal  is  a  very  hard  rock 
that  makes  an  admirable  foundation,  which  never  will  be  exhausted  during  the  work- 
ing of  the  coal. 

"As  regards  the  properties  of  the  coal  of  New  Mexico,  it  may  be  stated  that  it  is 
particularly  fitted  for  the  preparation  of  coke,  for  use  in  generating  steam,  and  for 
making  iron.  This  coal  is  also  useful  for  smiths'  work.  It  is  less  fitted  for  making 
gas.  In  the  valley  of  the  Ponil  clayey  spherosiderite  is  found,  apparently  derived  from 
the  clayetone  beds  which  accompany  the  coal,  wheuce  these  lenticular  balls  of  clayey 
carbonate  of  iron  have  occurred  in  the  valley  by  means  of  weathering. 

"  SECTION   IN   THE    VEKMEJO   VALLEY. 

"In  a  cafion  of  the  Vermejo  Valley  an  important  outcrop  of  the  coal-formation  is 
found,  whei'eiu  occur  never  less  than  seven  large  and  small  coal-beds,  and  clayey 
spherosiderite,  in  lens-formed  balls,  as  well  as  clay  ironstone,  in  thin  beds.  Entering 
this  canon  3f  miles  in  the  Vermejo  Valley,  on  the  south  side,  and  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  iu  the  canon,  on  the  nothwest  side,  the  outcrop  is  seen.  The  coal-formation  has 
liere  a  thickness  of  200  feet.  The  coal  is  always  at  least  21.5  feet  thick.  The  four 
lowest  beds  have  sufficient  dimensions  as  to  be  capable  of  being  developed.  The  low- 
est of  these  beds  contains  a  mass  of  coal  7  feet  thick.  In  the  second  bed,  counting 
from  below  upward,  occur  two  beds  of  iron-ore,  the  one  being  carboniferous  and  the 
other  argillaceous.  Each  of  these  deposits  of  ore  varies  from  2.5  to  3  inches  thick,  and 
corresponds  to  the  black-baud  ore  of  Scotland  and  South  Wales. 

"The  third  and  fourth  coal-beds  have  about  the  same  thickness,  viz,  3  feet  of  pure 
coal,  but  clayey  concretions  occur  also.  A  deposit  of  claystone,  2  feet  thick,  lies  above 
the  fourth  coal-bed,  in  which  lens-formed  masses  of  spherosiderite  are  imbedded.  The 
size  of  the  '  pennystoms' of  argillaceous  iron-ore,  which  occur  in  the  previously-de- 
scribed beds,  varies  from  very  small  to  2  feet  in  diameter  and  D^  inches  thick.  These 
coal-beds  lie  horizontally,  and  are  similar  in  quality  to  those  in  the  Ponil  Valley. 

"section    in   the   COTTONWOOD  CANON,   RED   RIVER. 

"In  entering  the  valley  of  the  Red  River  one  sees  the  coal-formation  exposed  at  a 
point  4  miles  from  Red-River  Station,  (Stockton  ranch,)  on  the  south  side  of  the 
canon.  There  is  a  workable  coal-bed  .5^  feet  thick.  This  bed  is  free  from  claystone 
concretions,  and  lies  horizontally.  The  coal  has  the  same  good  properties  as  that  of 
the  Vermejo  and  Ponil  Valleys.  In  case  railway  communication  between  Cimarron  an 
Fort  Lyou  and  Granada  is  brought  about,  the  coal  at  the  alove-meutioued  localities 


APPENDIX   NN.  1303 

can  be  worked  advantageously  on  account  of  tho  favorable  position  it  occupies.  No 
shaft  needs  to  be  made  for  tlic  development  of  the  coal.  In  each  of  the  three  locali- 
ties the  coal  can  be  worked  by  jjalleiies  driven  into  the  sides  of  canons.  As  regards 
the  evolution  of  gas,  it  may  be  said  that,  ncconling  to  present  developments,  there  is  no 
reason  to  dread  this  source  of  danger.  The  value  of  these  workable  coals  is  highly 
important  in  this  region,  which  is  situated  so  far  from  the  great  North  American  coal- 
field, and  when  deep  borings  shall  have  been  made  here  the  ricbuess  of  the  coals  will 
appear  to  bo  much  greater  than  wo  can  safely  estimate  this  wealth  at  the  present 
time./ 

Proreeding  nortli  from  Trinidad,  the  country  is  underlaid  by  .sandstone  until  the 
Spauish  Peaks  are  reached.  Here  dikes  of  basalt  and  trachyte-porphyry  occur.  In 
Eydar's  Canon  a  bed  of  coarse-grained  limouite  occurs  near  the  wagon-road. 

Near  the  placita  of  La  Molina,  a  few  miles  from  East  Spanish  Peak,  a  dike  of  bajalt 
occurs,  having  a  height  of  '25  feet  and  a  width  of  5  feet.  It  runs  northeast  and  south- 
west, and  has  broken  throuj^h  tlio  yellow  sandstone.  As  far  as  my  observatious  go, 
this  is  the  only  basalt  near  the  Spanish  Peaks.  At  Walsenburg  and  at  Pi.sher's  Peak 
this  rock  of  course  is  found,  but  between  these  plact^s  and  East  Spauish  Peak  I  ob- 
served no  basalt,  except  at  the  locality  mentioned  above. 

lu  the  plain  lying  northeast  of  Trinidad  a  few  buttes  of  basaltic  rocks  are  found. 
Near  the  Santa  Clara  Creek  I  noticed  two  buttes  of  hornbleude-i)orphyry,  having  a 
granular  texture. 

At  Walsenburg,  on  the  Cucharas  River,  a  bed  of  coal  occurs.  The  locality  is  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river.  As  my  visit  at  Walsenburg  was  so  short,  I  was  unable  to  ex- 
amine this  deposit  of  coal,  and  therefore  merely  mention  the  occurrence  of  the  miu- 
eral.  No  attempt  had  been  made  to  work  the  coal  at^that  time,  (June,  1875  )  It  is 
possible  thdt  this  coal  may  belong  to  the  .same  age  as  the  coal  of  Trinidad.  There  are 
several  low  ridges  of  basalt  running  north  and  south  near  Walsenburg. 

Twelve  miles  east  of  the  town  an  isolated  butte  of  basaltic  rocks  occurs  in  the  midst 
of  the  plain.  It  is  called  the  Orphan  Peak,  or  Cerrito  del  Huerfono.  The  main  part 
of  the  butte- consists  of  granular  diorite,  while  on  the  west  side  a  mass  of  compact 
basalt  outcrops.  This  butte  is  about  200  feet  h'gh  and  200  yards  long.  It  is  longer 
from  north  to  south  than  from  east  to  west.  These  detached  masses  of  igneous  rock, 
Ij'iug  east  of  the  Spauish  Peaks  at  distances  varying  from  20  to  25  miles,  were  evidently 
upheaved  toward  the  close  of  the  elevation  and  formation  of  the  main  range.  Lat- 
eral vents  existed  in  the  earth's  crust  through  which  the  basalt  was  erupted.  The 
numerous  dikes  of  trachyte  and  hornblende-porphyry  on  the  eastern  aud  northern 
sides  of  the  Spanish  Peaks,  and  on  the  eastern  side  of  She-p  Mountain,  bear  evidence 
of  the  vast  amount  of  igneous  action  that  has  played  a  very  important  part  in  shap- 
ing the  physical  features  of  the  country.  These  dikes  of  rock  are  in  general  not  more 
than  100  feet  high.  They  run  in  all  directions,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Spau- 
ish Peaks,  whence  the  dikes  radiate  like  the  spokes  of  a  wheel.  Near  the  he.id  of  Bear 
Creek  two  of  these  walls  run  at  tight  angles  to  each  other.  The  country  Ij'ing  east  of 
the  Huerfano  and  north  of  Badito,  which  borders  on  the  region  traversed  by  dikes,  has 
been  described  in  the  annual  report  for  1875. 


Appendix  I. 


report  on  the  oknituology  of  portions  of  nevada  and  calil<oilnia,  by  mr.  ii. 

w.  henshaw. 

United  States  Engineer  Office, 
Geographical  Surveys  west  of  the  IOOth  Meridian, 

Washington,  D.  C,  April  15,  1877. 
Sir:  I  have  the  homr  to  transmit  the  followiug  report  upou  the  oruithology  of  the 
region  visited  by  me  durirg  the  tield-seacon  of  Ic7t3. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

H.  W.  Henshaw. 
Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Wheeler, 

Corps  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


My  opportunities  for  investigating  the  bird  fauna  of  this  region  began  in  the  vicinity 
of  Carson  City,  Nov.,  during  the  last  week  of  August.  The  reudezvous-camp  estab- 
lished here  cfutinued  till  September  15.  Up  to  this  date  most  of  my  time  was  occupied 
in  making  collections  in  natural  history,  such  points  being  visited  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Carson  as  were  accessible  by  daily  trips.     The  party,  iu  immediate  charge  of  Lieu- 


1304  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

tenant  M.  M.  Macomb,  to  wbicli  I  was  attached  for  the  season,  left  Carson  on  the  15th 
of  September,  and  from  that  date  till  the  termination  of  my  fiehl-work,  except  a  period 
of  ten  days  from  November  10  to  the  20th,  which  I  spent  at  Carson,  I  was  occupied  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Lalje  Tahoe,  or  in  tlie  inouutaius  lying  conti;fnons  to  it.  It 
will  thus  be  seen  that  the  season's  resnlts  fall  nnder  two  distinct  heads,  according  as 
they  were  obtained  in  the  valleys  to  the  east  of  and  adjoiiiino-  the  main  chain,  or  were 
derived  from  observations  in  the  mountains.  In  presenting  lists  of  tiie  birds  observed, 
with  such  notes  as  I  was  able  to  gather,  I  have  thus  divided  them.  In  connection  with 
my  work  it  is  pleasant  to  be  able  to  speak  of  the  assistance  and  co-o()erati()n  so  cordially 
extended  to  me  by  the  oflScer  in  charge,  as  well  as  by  the  remaining  members  of  the 
party.  Fnrtheruiore,  I  have  to  gratefully  acknowledge  the  substantial  assistance  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  H.  G.  Parker,  of  Carson  City,  Nev.,  not  only  in  the  shape  of  rare  birds, 
the,  resnlts  of  his  enthusiastic  labors,  but  also  for  much  information  conceraing  the 
haunts  of  birds,  which  his  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  country  enabled  him  to 
supply. 

By  the  last  week  in  August  such  of  the  birds  as  still  remained  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  which  do  not  winter  here,  had  either  congregated  in  flocks  or  were  in  the  act  of 
assembling,  preparatory  for  their  departure  in  search  of  a  more  congenial  winter  cli- 
mate ;  while  not  a  few  of  the  less  hardy  species,  as  the  tauagers,  orioles,  grosbeaks, 
&c.,  had  already  taken  their  leave ;  hence  a  very  considerable  number  of  species  that 
are  common  to  the  region  as  summer  visitants  were  not  seen  at  all  by  us  ;  from  which 
fact  it  results  that  our  list  of  the  birds  no  iced  during  the  season  is  very  far  from  being 
a  complete  enumeration  of  the  actual  number  of  species  belonging  to  this  region. 

The  valley,  on  the  west  side  of  which  Carson  City  is  situated,  does  not  possess,  owing 
to  the  almost  complete  absence  of  timber,  the  natural  characteristics  which  serve  to 
attract  a  great  number  of  8))ecies  of  birds. 

Along  the  banks  of  the  Carson  River,  and  fringing  the  borders  of  the  other  small 
streams,  especially  where  they  debouch  from  the  mountains,  isfouud  a  limited  amount 
of  shrubbery,  which  serves  to  invite  and  give  shelter  to  the  species  that  usually  fre- 
quent similar  localities.  The  remainder  of  the  valley,  not  lying  close  enough  to  the 
streams  to  admit  of  irrigation  and  cultivation,  is  clothed  only  and  everywhere 
with  sage-brush  and  grease-wood,  and  is  inhabited  by  but  a  limited  number  of  the 
feathered  tribe.  The  foot-hills  and  eastern  faces  of  the  mountains  immediately  over- 
looking the  Washoe  and  Carson  Valleys  were  formerly  covered  with  a  dense  pine 
forest,  which  closely  hemmed  iu  the  valleys.  Within  a  few  years  this  has  been  en- 
tirely swept  away,  leaving  the  hills  comparatively,  and  iu  some  places  absolutely, 
denuded  of  vegetation.  As  a  consequence,  most  of  the  wood-loving  species  that 
formerly  extended  down  to,  or  even  into,  the  valleys,  have  retreated  upward,  and 
now  only  appear  below  as  occasional  stragglers,  or  in  winter. 

The  avifauna  of  the  region  about  Carson,  the  mountains  being  excluded,  offers  to 
our  notice  little  or  nothing  that  is  peculiar,  or  that  will  serve  to  distinguish  it  from 
that  much  farther  to  the  eastward.  In  fact,  a  large  proportion  of  the  forms  are  those 
common  to  the  interior  province  generally,  of  which  the  entire  eastern  poriion  of  Ne- 
vada may  be  regarded  as  an  integral  part. 

It  is  only  when  we  leave  the  pla'ns  and  low.  open  valleys,  and  ascend  into  the  foot- 
hills, that  we  begin  to  meet  with  any  well-marked  ciiange  in  the  aspect  of  tlio  bird- 
life.  Tills  change  is  a  somewhat  af'rupt  one,  and  is  quite  strictly  coincident  with  the 
line  of  demarkation  between  the  valleys  and  the  elevated  foot-hills,  being  hence  chiefly 
indicated  by  the  presence  of  such  species  as  are  pre-eminently  mountain  forms.  Thus 
in  the  shrubbery  skirting  the  foot-hills,  and  in  the  ravines,  we  find  the  California  jay 
{Cyanocitta  \ar.  raJifornica.)  Reaching  the  foot-hills  the  mountain-quail  begins  to  be 
numerous.'  Still  higher  up  the  shrubbery  of  the  mountains  was  found  to  be  the  home 
of  the  curious  Thick-billed  sparrow  (I'asserelhi  vav.  meyartjncha.)  It  is,  however,  in 
the  pine  region  proper  that  the  change  becomes  most  marked. 

Here  nre  found  'Tardus  usinlatus  ;  Cyanara  var. frontalis  ;  Selasporus  rufas ;  Sphyrap- 
icufi  ruber  and  Ficus  albolarvatns. 

All  of  the  above  species  are  found  as  regular  summer  inhabitants  of  this  region, 
while  the  woodpeckers  and  jays  are  constant  residents. 

From  the  occurrence  of  these  species,  which  may  be  regarded  as  belonging  essentially 
to  the  Pacific  province,  along  this,  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Sierra  Range,  we  may  safely 
draw  the  line  which  shall  divide  the  middle  from  the  Pacific  province  ac  the  foot  of 
the  eastern  slope  of  the  mountains,  and  consider  this  slope  of  the  main  chain  as  belong- 
ing, so  far  as  its  avian  fauna  is  concerned,  to  the  Pacific  province. t 

*As  ascertained  by  Mr.  Ridgway,  this  species  is  found  somewhat  farther  to  the  east- 
ward, reaching  the  mountains  by  means  of  the  connecting  foot-hills.  The  flocks  ap- 
pear, however,  to  be  little  else  than  stragglers,  and  with  the  eastern  slope  of  the  main 
chain  this  bird  ceases  to  be  common,  and  the  species  is  soon  lost  altogetlior. 

t  Two  of  the  mammals  found  by  us  along  this  slope  also  point  to  the  same  conclusion . 
The  large  Spermoj)ilus  instead  of  being  the  interior  form  gratiDniirus  is  tlie  rar.  beechyie 
of  the  Pacific  province.     Similarly  the  small  Sciurus  is  doitglasii  instead  of  rkliardsoni. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1305 

Bclovi-  is  appended  a  full  list  of  the  Pacific  province  forms  that  find  their  eastern 
limit  along  the  eastern  slope  of  the  main  chain.* 

I.  Species  limited  by  eastern  slope  : 

1.  Zonolrichia  coronata.    Fall  migrant. 

2.  raxscrcUa  var.  meganjncha.     Summer  resident. 
15.  ripUo  yar.  oregonus.     Resident. 

4.  C iianur a  \-M\  frontalis.     Resident 

5.  Cyanocitta  var.  caVi/ornwa.     Resident. 

0.  FicHS  albolarvafiis.     Resident. 

7.  Sjilnirapicns  ruber.     Resident  in  small  numbers  ;  fall  migrant. 

8.  Orcortijx  pida.     Resident. 

II.  The  following  Pacific  province  species  find  their  limit  as  above  in  the  breeding 
season,  but  during  the  migrations,  especially  in  the  fall,  they  occur  more  or  less  fre- 
quently at  points  at  variable  distances  to  the  eastward  : 

1.  Tardus  paUasii  \AV.  nanus.    Migrant. 

2.  Tardus  Dwainsoni  yaw  ast'ulaius.     Summer  resident. 

3.  f  Thryothorus  bewickii  var.  sjyilurus.     Resident. 

4.  Troglodytes  hyemaUs  \ax.  pacificus.     Winter  resident. 

5.  Uvlminlhophaga  celata  var.  lutescens.     Summer  resident. 

6.  ^yiodiovtes  jyasillus  vav.  2)Ueolaias.     Summer  resident. 

7.  ili'lospiza  mvlodia  var.  hicniuinnl.     Resident. 

8.  Melospiza  mdodia  var.  gattata.  Perhaps  accidental.  One  specimen  iu  West  Hum- 
boldt Mountains  in  fall.     (Ridgway.) 

9.  Junco  oregonus.    Resident. 

10.  Zonolrichia  leueophrys  var.  intermedia.     Summer. 

11.  \  Aga'laius  pha'uiceus  var.  gubernator.     Summer. 

12.  \ Nepocates  niger.     Summer. 

13.  t  Chwtura  Vauxii.     Summer. 

14.  Sclasphorus  rufa.     Summer. 

As  noticed  above,  the  fauna  of  the  plains  and  valleya  to  the  east  of  the  main  chain 
is,  in  respect  to  its  summer  residents,  indistingui-*hable  from  that  of  the  middle  pro- 
vince. 

As  showing  the  sharpness  with  which  the  line  of  demarkation  is  di'awu  by  the  Sierra 
Range  we  are  able  to  note  but  two  species,  which  may  be  considered  as  cliaracteristic- 
ally  belonging  to  the  middle  province,  which,  in  their  range  westward,  intrude  beyond 
the  limit  assigned  and  reach  into  the  monutaius.  These  arn  Carpodacus  frontalis  and 
Pica  nielanolcuca  var.  hudsonica.  The  first  is  numerous  about  Lake  Tahoe,  but  does  not, 
80  far  as  I  could  ascertain,  reach  to  the  west  of  the  divide.  Pica  hudsonica  scarcely 
finds  its  way  into  the  range,  but  is  mostly  limited  by  the  foot-hills.  A  lew  individuals, 
however,  were  noticed  by  us  on  the  borders  of  Tahoe. 

Of  the  specimens  procured  along  the  eastern  slope  during  the  Reason  a  number  have 
proved  of  especial  interest,  as  illustrating  the  differentiation  which  takes  place  in  a 
species  or  variety  when  found  at  a  point  remote  from  the  locality  or  region  where  its 
peculiarities  attain  their  maximum  development,  and  which  consequently  may  ba  con- 
sidered its  true  home. 

The  eastern  slope  of  the  Sierras,  though  belonging,  as  has  been  shown,  to  the  Pacific 
province,  ocenpies  a  somewhat  interintdiate  position  between  the  Pacific  and  Middle 
provinces,  and,  as  it  difi'ers  clinuitically  more  or  less  from  either  regijD,  its  birds  might 
be  supposed  to  indicate'  to  some  extent,  in  plumage  or  otherwise,  tbe  changes  under- 
gone in  the  conditions  of  environment.  Such  has  been  found  to  be  true.  Tliis  is  best 
illustrated  in  the  cases  of  several  birds  that  are  represented  by  different  varieties  in 
the  two  provinces.  In  all  such  instances,  while  they  are  seen  to  partake  more  largely 
of  the  characteristics  pertaining  to  the  Pacific  forms,  they  are  yet,  to  a  very  apprecia- 
ble extent,  intermediate,  and,  wlien  compared  with  their  respective  types  from  the  west 
coast,  will  be  seen  to  divaricate  directly  toward  the  conditions  distinguishing  the  mid- 
dle province  forms.  Thus  the  Californian  jays  (Cyanocitta  floridana  var.  californica)  of 
the  eastern  slope  not  only  have  smaller  bills  and  feet  than  coast  examples,  but  their 
colors  throughout  are  decidedly  lighter,  thus  approaching  in  characteristics  the  var. 
u'oodhoasei  of  the  interior,  which  in  its  tyi)ical  form  begins  to  occur  only  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  Nevada.  Similar  diftereuces,  though  not  carried  to  the  same  extent,  are 
found  iu  the  Steller's  jay,  in  the  variety  known  as  var.  frontalis,  which,  though  con- 
fined to  the  Sierras,  becomes  somewhat  lighter  colored,  with  smaller  bill,  at  its  eastern 
limit  than  iu  the  Californian  coast  range  on  the  west. 

.     *  For  a  number  of  these,  as  well  as  for  indications  of  the  character  of  their  occur- 
rence, I  am  indebted  to  the  admirable  list  of  Mr.  §idgway  ;  vide  Bull.  Ess^x  Institute, 
vol.  6,  No.  10 ;  vol.  VII,  Nos.  1  and  2 ;  and  also  in  several  instances  to  verbal  notes  fur- 
nished by  him. 
t  These  three  birds  breed  in  the  valleys  adjoining  the  mountains. 


1306        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

The  Western  Orange-crowned  Warbler,  (Hehninthophaga  celatn  var.  liitcscens,)  which 
is  distinguished  varictally,  as  it  occurs  on  the  west  coast,  mainly  by  its  brighter  col- 
oration, is  here  decidedly  paler,  though  still  approximating  more  closely  to  this  than 
to  the  interior  and  eastern  form,  H.  celata.  The  sanm  is  true  of  Myiodioctes  piisiUus  var. 
pileolatus  as  compared  with  M.  jjusllhis.  The  Song  Sparrow  of  this  region,  though  re- 
ferable to  the  Pacific  type,  (Melospiza  melodia  var.  hecrmanui,)  yet  very  distinctly  ap- 
jiroaches  the  If.  yar.  fall  ax  of  the  middle  province,  and  only  a  short  distance  to  the 
east  of  the  main  chain  will  be  found  to  merge  into  the  latter.  Perhaps,  however,  in 
no  bird  is  this  tendency  toward  vai'iation  better  shown  than  in  the  remarkable  thick- 
billed  sparrow,  (Passere/Za  iZf'acrt  var.  jHc^art/Hcfta.)  In  its  typical  region,  the  southern 
coast  range  of  California,  the  bill  of  this  bird  is  enormously  developed,  till  it  becomes 
almost  misshapen  through  its  extreme  depth.  Coincident  with  this  is  a  change  of 
color,  it  being  several  shades  darker  than  its  representative  from  the  interior,  P.  var. 
schistacea.  Examples  from  the  eastern  slope,  though  unmistakably  of  this  variety,  show 
in  the  modification  of  these  peculiarities  that  many  steps  have  been  taken  toward  the 
schistacea  form.  Tbe  colors  are  lighter  ;  the  bill,  though  still  much  larger  than  is  ever 
found  in  the  latter  bird,  is  perhai)s  scarcely  half  the  size  found  in  extreme  examples  of 
F.  var.  niegaryricha.  Other  species  showing  a  similar  tendency  might  also  be  cited,  all 
having  the  same  significance,  viz,  a  differentiation  from  the  typical  condition  of  their 
respective  forms  toward  the  interior  type,  coincident  with  their  intermediate  habitat. 

The  small  number  of  species  of  the  Warbler  family  (SiiltncoUdw)  represented  in  the 
Sierra  Range,  as  remarked  by  us  during  the  season  of  1875  in  California,  and  again  the 
past  season  on  the  eastern  slope,  as  compared  with  the  number  found  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  is  a  matter  of  much  interest.  When  the  comparison  is  extended  to  the 
middle  and  Pacific  provinces  proper,  nearly  the  same  numerical  ratio  is  found  to  exist. 
Noticeable  as  this  is  in  the  cases  of  these  two  provinces,  when  a  like  comparison  is  made 
with  the  eastern  province,  a  much  greater  discrepancy  in  the  number  of  tliis  j^roup  is 
seen.  To  so  great  an  extent  is  this  true  that  in  a  division  of  the  continent  into  two 
longitudinal  sections  this  family  would  enter  as  a  veiy  important  factor  of  the  prob- 
lem, the  number  of  Warblers  found  in  the  eastern  i)rovince,  (its  divisional  line  being 
drawn  at  about  the  one-hundredth  meridian,)  as  compared  with  the  western  half,  being 
nearly  as  two  to  one.  No  fewer  than  forty-two  species  of  Warblers  inhabit  the  eastern 
region.  The  greater  proportion  of  these  occur  in  the  extreme  eastern  part,  being  there 
distributed  to  the  several  avian  faunas  that  have  been  marked  out  from  along  its  south- 
ern border  to  its  northernmost  limits.  The  greatest  number  of  species  occur  towards  its 
northern  portions,  especially  in  the  Alleghauian  and  Canadian  faunas  as  restricted; 
those  whose  habitat  is  northern,  visit,  of  course,  the  lower  faunas  in  tiieir  migrations. 

As  localities  to  the  westward  are  noted  it  will  be  found  that  the  number  of  species 
diminishes,  and  several  birds  are  lost  sight  of  ere  reaching  the  Mississippi  River.  On 
its  western  edge  the  eastern  province  loses  quite  a  large  proportion  of  its  character- 
istic species,  no  fewer  than  fourteen  which  occur  along  its  eastern  half,  being  absent 
in  Kansas.  A  small  percentage  of  eastern  species  still  persist  Avhen  the  middle  jirovince 
is  entered,  some  of  them  being  found  clear  across  the  continent,  forming,  indeed,  the 
larger  percentage  of  the  sylvicoline  avi-fauna. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  eastern  species  that  remain  when  the  middle  province 
is  reached : 

1.  Helmintliopharja  celata. 

2.  JJeudroica  o^stiva. 

3.  Geoihlypis  trichas, 

4.  Ictcria  virens. 

5.  JSIyiodiocles  pusUlus. 

6.  Setophaga  ruiicilla. 

Helminthopliaga  ruficapilla,  Dendroica  coronata,  D.  striata,  D.  maculosa,  and  Seiurus  no- 
vehoracensis  have  all  been  found  more  or  less  numerously  in  Colorado  and  elsewhere 
within  the  limits  of  the  middle  region.  They  do  not,  however,  breed  there,  but  occur 
only  as  migrants  in  spring  or  fall  as  they  pass  to  or  from  their  northern  summer  haunts 
within  the  eastern  province  ;  hence  they  are  not  included  in  the  above  list. 

To  those  enumerated  are  to  be  added  several  species  which  are  characteristic  of  the 
middle  province,  in  so  far  at  least  as  they  are  not  found  at  all  within  the  limits  of  the 
eastern;  one  or  two  of  these  occur,  so  far  as  known,  only  as  migrants,  their  proper 
habitat  being  the  Pacific  province;  several  are  confined  to  the  extreme  southern  por- 
tion of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  three  only  are  confined  to  this  province. 

The  additional  species  are  : 

7.  Eelminlhophaga  luciw. 

8.  Helminthopliaga  rirginice. 

9.  Dendroica  occidentalis.  • 

10.  Dendroica  townsendi. 

11.  Dendroica  nigrescens. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1307 

12.  Dendroica  auihthouii. 

13.  Denilroiva  ollvdcva. 

14.  Dendroica  gracUv. 

15.  Geothlypis  macgUlivrayi.  , 

16.  Setophflgaptcta. 

17.  CardcUiiia  rnbrifrons. 

llelminihophaqa  luckv,  virgiiiice,  and  Dendroica  gracice,  are  the  only  ones  belonging  ex" 
clnsivelv  to  this  ro{j;ion. 

Of  Jh'ndroiva  ocddcDtalls,  towDsevdii,  and  vigrescens,  the  two  first  come  more  properly 
■within  tlie  Pacific  province,  an  they  breed  about,  the  Cohimbia  Kiver  and  Nortlicrn  Sier- 
ras, and  only  find  their  way  to  the  Kocky  Moiintaii  s  during  the  fall  nngratioiiH,  and  then 
to  the  southern  portions  of  thrt  chain.  Dendroica  nig resceiis  is  equally  an  inhabitant 
of  both  rci^ions.  Dendroica  oliracea,  Setophaga  jncta,  and  CardvUina  riihrifrons  oi\]y  occur  in 
our  territory  in  Southern  Arizona.  This  portion  of  that  Territory,  as  well  as  the  cor- 
responding part  of  New  Mexico,  fauually  considered,  belongs  with  and  is  indivisible 
from  Northern  Mexico. 

Leaving  the  nndrlle  region  and  approaching  the  Pacific  coast,  we  find  that  the  num- 
ber of  wa'rblers  still  diminishes,  whether  we  consider  the  mountains  propnr,  or  the  low 
coast  regions.  In  this  province  we  find  no  species  which  we  have  not  recognized  in 
one  or  tlie  other  of  the  two  provinces  mentioned,  though  D.  occidcntaUs  and  D.  townsendii 
are  characteristic  of  this  province  as  summer  residents. 

The  following  is  the  list : 

1.  Hehninlhophaga  ruficapilla. 

2.  Eehninihophuga  ceJata  vat.  luiescens. 
;i.  Dendroica  wslira. 

4.  Dendroica  occidentalis. 

5.  Dendroica  totvnsendii. 
G.  Dendroica  nigrescens. 

7.  Dendroica  coronata  ? 

8.  Dendroica  audnhonii. 

9.  Geothh/pis  trichas. 

10.  Geotldypis  macgiUivrayi. 

11.  Icteria  rirens. 

12.  Myiodioctes  pusillua  vsiv.jyileolatus. 

Two  instances  are  to  be  noted  here  where  birds  continuing  unchanged  as  they  pass 
from  the  eastern  into  the  middle  province,  are  in  the  Pacific  region  differentiated  into 
varieties,  namely,  HeJminthophaga  var.  lutescens  a!  d  Myiodioctes  v[\.y.  inhulata. 

The  evident  preponderance  of  the  number  of  species  of  this  group  in  the  Eastern 
United  States,  taken  in  connection  with  the  fact  that  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  forms 
that  occur  in  the  western  half  of  the  country  are  eastern  species,  but  little  changed,  or, 
as  in  most  instances,  actually  the  sanift,  and  that  so  few  are  peculiar  to  that  region, 
seems  strongly  to  favor  the  assumption  that  it  w-as  in  the  East  that  the  family  had  its 
origin,  and  that  few,  perhaps  none,  of  the  group  were  indigenous  to  the  West. 

A  furthf  r  consideration  of  the  number  of  warblers  inhabiting  the  more  uorbhern  and 
eastern  parts  of  North  America,  in  comparison  with  those  of  the  southern  parts  oi 
Mexico  and  South  America,  seems  to  point  to  the  conclusion  that  the  original  center  of 
the  family  was  actually  in  this  (the  former)  region,  and  that  it  radiated  out  from  a 
comparatively  circumscribed  area,  to  become  firmly  established  in  and  indigenous  to 
the  sections  where  it  now  tlonrishes.  The  Canadian  atd  Hudsonian  faunas,  as  re- 
stricted by  Allen,  receive  a  larger  proportion  of  warblers  in  the  breeding  season  than 
are  to  be  found  in  any  other  region  of  North  America  of  similar  extent. 

In  his  g-ographical  distribution  of  mammals,  Wallace  arrives  at  a  similar  conclusion 
respecting  Xha  MoiacillidcE,  (warblers,)  giving  their  probable  origin  as  North-Temperate 
America. 

LIST  OF  BIKDS  OBSERVED  NEAR  CARSON  CITY,  NEV.,  l^ROM  AUGUST  25  TO  SEPTEMBER  16, 
AND  FROM  NOVEMBER  10  TO  NOVEMBER  20,  1876,  WITH  NOTES. 

TUEDID^. 

1.  Tardus  migratorius,  L.,  var.  propinquus,  R. — Nevada  Robin. 

Under  the  above  name  Mg".  Ridgway  has  recently  described  a  western  variety  of  the 
robin,  and  has  indicated  certain  differences  that  obtain  in  the  species  as  it  occurs  from 
the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  Mouutains  westward,  as  compared  with  examples  of  the 
bird  from  the  region  east  of  the  Missouri  Plains. 

The  specimens  we  have  seen  from  Nevada  correspond  well  with  his  diagnosis  of  the 
above  bird,  and,  while  we  cannot  consider  the  forms  in  question  as  illustrating  "  two 


1308  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

« 
very  strongly  marked  geographical  races,"  tliey  yet  appear  to  be  admissible  as  slight 
varietal  forms. 

Apparently  not  a  common  species  in  the  valleys  during  the  summer  and  fall;  said 
to  be  abundant  in  the  early  epring  months  along  the  water-courses. 

2.  Oreoscoptes  montanus  (Towns.). — Sage  Thrush. 

Fairly  numerous  amongst  the  sage-brush.  The  Sierras  appear  to  limit  absolutely 
the  westward  range  of  this  species,  and  it  seems  to  be  entirely  wanting  in  California, 
except  in  the  extreme  southern  portion,  where  it  reaches  across  the  soutliern  line  quite 
to  the  coast ;  so  to  the  northward,  where  it  finds  no  lofty  mountain  barriers,  it  extends 
to  the  Columbia  River. 

SAXICOLIDJE. 

3.  Sialia  mexicana,  Sw. — Western  Bluebird. 
Common. 

4.  Sialia  arctica,  Sw. — Arctic  Bluebird. 

Noted  about  Carson  in  November,  when  it  frequented  the  cedar  and  piuon  hills, 
descending  at  this  season  from  the  mountains,  where  found  earlier. 

SYLVIID^E. 

5.  Eeguhis  calendula,  (L.). — Ruby-crowned  Wren. 

Quite  numerous  in  the  cottonwoods  and  in  the  shrubbery  of  the  streams. 

PARIDJE. 

6.  Partis  montanus,  Gainh. — Mountain  Chickadee. 

Though,  as  its  name  implies,  a  lover  of  the  mountains,  wher.^  an  inhabitant  of  the 
conifers,  it  yet  in  fall  descends  lower,  and  in  the  depth  of  winter  is  found  quite  com- 
monly among  the  deciduous  vegetation  of  the  valleys. 

TROGLODYTID.E. 

7.  Troglodytes  aedon,  V.,  va^v.  parknianni  (Aud.). — Parkman's  Wren. 
Not  common;  not  seen  about  houses,  but  frequenting  the  shrubbery. 

8.  Cistothorus  palmtris,  Wils.,  var.  paliidicola,  Bd. — Long-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

The  sedgy  margins  of  Washoe  Lake  cjntaia  thousands  of  these  noisy  little  wrens, 
which  winter  here. 

MOTACILLID^. 

9.  Anthus  hidovicianns  (Gm.). — Titlark. 

Not  seen  about  Carson  in  September,  bub  found  on  my  return  in  November  in  small 
numbers.  Found  along  water-courses,  but  chiefly  in  wet,  meadowy  ground  or  among 
stubble. 

SYLVICOLIDiE. 

10.  Hcjminihopliaga    celaia    (Say),    var.    luteseens,    Ridgw. — Western   Orange-crowned 

Warbler. 

Occurs  in  small  numbers  in  fall  in  the  shrubbery  that  skirts  the  foofc-hills. 

11.  Dendroica  andiibonii  (Towns.). — Audubon's  Warbler. 
Appearing  in  the  vallej's  only  during  the  migrations. 

12.  GeotMypis  trichas  (L.). — Maryland  Yellowthroat. 

A  few  of  this  species  were  seen  till  into  September.  They  are  quite  numerous  earlier, 
breeding  in  the  low  portions  of  the  valleys. 

13.  Myiodioctes  pusilltis  {Wda.),  var.  pilcolata,  Ridgw. — Western  Black  Cap. 
One  or  two  seen  along  the  borders  of  Washoe  Lake. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1309 

LANIID.E. 

14.  CoUurio  horealis  (V.). — Great  Northern  Shrike. 

Makes  its  appearance  ahonfc  Carson  from  the  north  in  October.     Saw  several. 

15.  Collurio  ludoviciatms  (L.),  var.  excuhitoroides  (Sw.). — Western  Loggerhead   Shrike. 
Appears  to  be  resident  in  considerable  numbers.     Quite  common  in  November. 

FRINGILLID^. 

IG.  CarpodacHS  frontalis  (Say). — House  Finch. 

Abundant;  frequenting  especially,  and  in  large  flocks,  the  shrubbery  along  the  Car- 
son Eiver. 

17.  Passerculus  savanna  (Wils.),  var.  alaudinus,  Bon. — Western  Savanna  Sparrow. 
Numerous  in  wet  ground. 

18.  Pooecetes  gramineus  (Gm.),  var.  confinis,  Bd. — Western  Grass  Finch. 
Common  among  the  sage-brush. 

19.  Mdospiza  melodia  (Wils.),  var.  heermanni,  Bd. — Heerman's  Song  Sparrow. 

I  saw  but  few  of  this  sparrow  in  the  valleys.  It  however  occurs  about  Carson, 
according  to  Mr.  Ridgway,  as  a  common  summer  resident,  and  a  greater  or  less  num- 
ber winter. 

20.  Foospiza  belli  (Cass.),  var.  nevadensis,  Ridgw. — Artemisia  Sparrow. 

The  artemisia  wastes  are  peculiarly  suited  to  the  habits  of  this  species,  and  all  the 
year  round  it  may  be  found  in  the  same  localities.  It  builds  its  nest  in  the  sage-bush 
in  summer,  and  as  fall  approaches  the  flocks  congregate  together,  not  to  leave  their 
desolate  surroundings,  but  to  wander  hither  and  thither  in  more  extended  circles  over 
the  same  hunting-grounds. 

21.  Junco  oregonus  (Towns.).— Oregon  Snowbird. 
In  fall  and  winter  numerous  in  the  valleys. 

22.  Spizella  sociaJis  (Wils.),  var.  arizonce  (Coues). — Arizona  Chiiiping  Sparrow. 
Common  in  summer. 

23.  Spizella  hreiceri,  Cass. — Brewer's  Sparrow. 
Very  numerous,  inhabiting  the  sage-brush. 

24.  ZonotricMal€uco2)hrys{FoTst.),  var.  intermedia,  Ridgw. 

This  species  remains  in  the  mountains  till  late  in  the  fall,  but,  gradually  descending, 
becomes  by  November  quite  common  in  the  low  valleys,  where  among  the  brush-wood 
it  remains  during  the  winter. 

25.  Chondestes grammaca  (Say). — Lark  Finch. 

Tolerably  numerous.  I  saw  more  individuals  in  November  than  in  August.  Fre- 
quents at  this  season  for  the  most  part  open  ground. 

26.  Cganospiza  amocna  (Say). — Lazuli  Finch. 

By  the  latter  part  of  August  rearly  all  this  species  had  migrated  to  the  south,  and 
only  an  occasional  individual  was  teen.    Numerous  in  summer. 

ICTERID^. 

27.  Agelwus  phceniceus  (L.). — Red- winged  Blackbird. 

This  is  the  common  species  of  the  marshes  about  Carson,  and  of  the  region  generally. 
This  appears  to  be  its  western  limit.  The  J.  var.  guhernator,  according  to  Mr.  Ridgway 
also  occurs  in  the  marshes. 

28.  Xantliocephalus  icterocephalus  (Bp.). — Yellow-headed  Blackbird. 

This  bird  does  not  appear  to  be  found  in  any  considerable  numbers  in  this  locality. 
They  were  more  or  less  common  in  November  about  the  tulle  sloughs,  and  remain  dur- 
ing the  winter. 


1310  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

29.  StunicUa  magna  (L.),  var.  neglecta. — Western  Meadow  Lark. 

Very  nnmerons  both  in  summer  and  winter,  being  chiefly  fouud  in  the  pastures,  but 
frequenting  to  some  extent  the  sage-brush. 

30.  Scolecophagns  cyanoceplialus  (Gm.). — Brewer's  Blackbird. 

More  numerous  even  than  the  red-wings,  as,  too,  more  generally  distributed.  In  win- 
ter they  may  be  seen  in  almost  any  situation. 

CORVIDiE. 

31.  Corvus  corax  L.,  var.  carnivorns  Birtr. — American  Raven. 
A  common  resident. 

32.  Gynmokitta  eyanocephyala  Maxim. — Blue  Crow. 

Not  an  inhabitant  of  the  valleys  proper  at  any  season,  but  often  seen  in  large  flocks 
flying  from  one  range  of  piuon  hills  to  auother.  They  are  resident,  and  breed  among 
the  pinous. 

33.  Pica  m'danoleiioa{h.),  var.  hiidsoiiica,  Sab. — Magpie. 

The  niaff])ie  is  a  very  common  inhabitant  of  the  valleys,  being  naturally  fond  of  the 
densest  thickets  that  fringe  the  various  streams,  where  they  build  their  nests.  The 
bird  plays  au  important  role  as  a  scavenger,  and  the  slaughter-houses  form  the  centers 
around  which  all  the  individuals  of  a  locality  congregate. 

34.  Cyarwcitta  Jloridana  (Bartr.),  var.  californica,  Vigors. — Californian  Ground  Jay. 

This  species  crosses  the  Sierra  range,  and  is  fouud  along  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
mountains.  It  reaches,  however,  no  farther  than  the  foot-hills,  but  is  soon  replaced  to 
the  east  by  the  closely  allied  form,  the  Woodhiiiise's  .Jay,  {Ci/anocitta  var.  tooodhousei.) 
I  found  it  numerous  iu  the  brush  of  the  foot-hills  ;  not  present  in  the  pine  woods  of  the 
mountains.     By  November  all  had  passed  farther  south. 

TYRANNID^. 

35.  Tyr annus  verticalis,  Say. — Arkansas  Flycatcher. 

A  very  abundant  species  about  Carson,  where  they  nest  in  the  shade-trees  along  the 
streets.  They  leave  for  the  south  iu  August,  and  by  the  last  of  the  mouth  all  had  de- 
parted. 

36.  Sayornis  sayas  (Bon.). — Say's  Flycatcher. 

A  single  specimen  was  taken  September  8.  The  species  is  doubtless  a  common  one 
during  the  summer. 


ALCEDINID^. 


37.  Ceryle  alcyon  (L.). — Kingfisher. 
Common  on  all  the  streams. 

CAPRIMULGID.<E. 

38.  Antrostomus  nuttalU  {k\xA.). — Nuttall's  Poorwill. 

Present  in  considerable  numbers  during  summer.  The  species  migrates  during  the 
month  of  September,  aud  is  then  very  frequently  starttd  up  from  among  the  scrub  and 
brush  of  the  hillsides. 

39.  C/iorrf(3i7t's  jJOiJf/Ke(Vieill.),  var.  henryi,  Cass.— Western  Night-Hawk. 
Numerous  in  the  valleys.    All  had  disappeared  by  the  last  of  August. 

TROCHILID^. 

40.  Selanjihorus  riifits  (Gmel.). — Rufous-backed  Humming  Bird. 

An  occasional  individual  seen,  which  had  strayed  down  from  the  neighboring  mount 
ains.     Probably  not  found  iu  the  valleys  at  all  in  summer. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1311 

PICID^. 

41.  PicHS  vlllosus  (L.),  var.  harrisii,  And. — Harris's  Woodpecker. 

Not  common  in  the  valleys,  but  occasionally  seen  in  the  trees  about  Carson  in  the 
fall. 

42.  Colaptes  mexicanus  (Swains.). — Red-shafted  Flicker. 

Quite  common  in  the  valleys  in  summer;  more  numerous  in  fall. 

STRIGID^. 

43.  Otas  vulgaris  (L).  var.  wilsonianiis  (Less.) — Long-eared  Owl. 

The  only  arboreal  species  that  is  at  all  common  in  the  valleys.  This  bird  is  very 
numerous  and  lives  the  year  round  iu  the  little  copses  of  willows  and  the  denser  thick- 
ets bonlering  the  swampy  lands.  Their  food  consists  almost  exclusively  of  held-mice, 
of  which  they  kill  vast  numbers,  a  fact  which  should  earn  them  the  protection  of  the 
farmers. 

44.  Speotyto  cimicidaria  (Mol.),  var.  hypugwa  (Bon.). — Burrowing  Owl. 

An  abundant  resident  in  some  of  the  high  pasture  lands  about  Carson,  their  location 
being  only  determined  by  the  presence  of  suitable  burrows  made  by  the  several  species 
of  ground-squirrels  (S2)t'rmophilus.) 

FALCONID.E. 

45.  Falco  communis  Gmel.,  var.  anatum,  Bon. — Duck  Hawk. 

In  fall  making  its  appearance  in  considerable  numbers  along  the  sloughs  and  on  the 
borders  of  the  lakes,  where  it  is  always  ready  to  capture  the  water-fowl  disabled  by 
the  gunners.  Its  powers  of  wing  are  ample  to  enable  it  to  overtake,  in  fair  pursuit,  any 
of  the  ducks,  and  many  fall  its  victims. 

46.  Falco  sparverius  L. — Sparrow  Hawk, 
Numerous. 

47.  Patidion  haliwius  (L.). — var.  carolinensis,  Gmel. — Fish  Hawk. 
Common  on  the  lakes  and  streams. 

48.  Circus  cyaneus  (L.).  var.  hudsonius,  L. — Marsh  Hawk, 

The  most  abundant  of  all  the  predatory  birds.  Exceeding  numerous  in  thts  marshes. 
Never,  I  think,  interfering  with  the  water-fowl,  except  when  wounded,  and  deriving 
its  subsistence  chiefly  from  the  smaller  species  of  rodents. 

49.  Buteo  iorealis  (Gmel.).,  var.  calurus,  Cass. — Western  Red-tailed  Hawk. 
Not  very  common,  and  seen  in  the  low  valleys  only  in  fall  and  winter. 

50.  Arcliibuteo  Jagopui  (Bvman.).,  var,  sflncft-joZiaw«fs,— Rough-legged  Hawk, 

Coming  down  from  the  mountains  in  considerable  numbers  as  fall  approaches,  and' 
like  the  Duck  Hawk,  making  its  headquarters  about  the  sloughs  and  open  sheets  of 
water.    Its  chief  dependence  are  mice,  bat  it  also  seizes  many  wounded  ducks. 

51.  Aquila  eliryscetus  (L.), — Golden  Eagle. 

Mr.  Parker  presented  me  with  a  specimen  of  this  eagle,  which  he  had  killed  in  the 
fall  near  Carson,     Its  occurrence  so  low  down  is  not  common. 

.52,  Ehinogrypkus  aura  (L.). — Red-headed  Vulture. 

Numerous  about  Carson,  where  very  useful  as  a  scavenger. 

COLUMBID^. 

53,  Zenaidura  carolinensis  (L.). — Carolina  Dove. 
Abounds  in  the  low  valleys  everywhere. 


1312  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

PERDICIDJ]:. 

5i.  Oreortijt  plcta  (Dougl.).— Mountain  Quail. 

Scarcely  found  In  the  valleys,  yet  ran<ring  from  the  high  mountains  over  the  foot- 
hills, and  so  occasionally  met  with  in  the  valleys,  or  at  the  head  of  ravines,  whither 
they  resort  after  w'ater. 

55.  Lophortijx  calif ornicits  (Shaw.). — California  Valley  Quail. 

A  few  have  been  introduced  about  Carson,  as  I  was  informed  by  Mr.  Parter.  They 
do  not  appear  to  increase  at  a  very  rajjid  rate. 

CHARADRIID^. 

56.  JegiaVdls  voctfera  (L.). — Killdeer. 

Numerous  in  summer  and  fall,  becoming  rarer  as  the  season  advances,  and  probably 
but  few  actually  winter  in  this  vicinity. 

RECURVIROSTRID^. 

57.  Eecurvirostra  americana,  Gmel. — American  Avocet.    / 

Rather  abundant  during  the  migrations;  mauy  breed  about  Washoe  Lake. 

SCOLOPACID^. 

58.  GaUinago  wilsonii  (Temm.). — Wilson's  Snipe. 

Not  abundant,  but  still  found  in  considerable  numbers,  especially  during  the  fall  mi- 
gration.   A  few  doubtless  winter. 

59.  Erexmetes  puHillus  (L.). — Semi  palmated  Sandpiper. 

60.  Totanus  melanolencus  (Gmel.). — Greater  Yellowlegs. 

Of  frequent  occurrence  in  spring  and  fall,  during  the  migrations. 

ARDEID^. 

61.  Ardea  lierodias  L. — Great  Blue  Heron. 
Common. 

62.  Herodias  egretta  (Gmel.). — Great  White  Egret. 
An  occasional  individual  seen. 

63.  Bolaiirus  minor  Gmel. — Bittern. 

Very  common  in  the  marshes. 

RALLIDiE. 

64.  Eallus  virginianus  L. — Virginia  Rail. 

Rather  numerous. 

The  Porzana  Carolina  was  not  seen  by  up,  but  was  found  by  Mr.  Ridgway  breeding  in 
the  Truckee  Valley,  and  doubtless  it  is  found  in  all  the  marshes  of  this  vicinity. 

65.  Falica  americana  Gm. — Coot. 

Breeds  in  great  numbers  in  the  tules  of  Washoe  and  other  lakes  of  this  region.  In 
fall  appears  in  immense  numbers. 

ANATID^. 

66.  Cygnus  Inccinator  Richardson. — Trumpeter  Swan. 

Mr.  Parker  informed  me  that  occasionally  a  swan  strayed  on  to  Washoe  Lake.  At 
the  sink  of  the  Carson  River  this  swan  is  found  iu  fall  in  very  great  numbers. 

67.  Anscr  hyperhoreus  Pall. — Snow  Goose. 

Coming  from  the  north  in  large  flocks  in  October  and  November. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1313 

68.  Branta  canadensis  (L.)- — Canada  Goose. 

Migrants  from  the  north  appear  in  the  fall  in  large  docks  ;  some  merely  make  a  tem- 
porarj'  sojourn,  and  continue  their  course  southward.  Many  of  those  arriving  late  re- 
main about  the  lakes  all  winter. 

69.  Branta  canadensis  (L.),  var.  lencopareia  (Brandt). — White-collared  Goose. 

A  single  individual  of  the  above  variety,  one  of  a  sraallllock,  was  shot  in  November 
by  my  friend  Mr.  Parker.  The  three  forms  of  the  Canada  goose  {canadensis,  hiitchinsii, 
and  hucopareia)  appear  to  come  from  the  north  in  associate  bauds,  the  tlocks  being 
often  composed  iu  this  locality  of  varying  numbers  of  either  bird. 

70.  Dendrocygna  fulva  (Gm.)  Burm. — Fulvous  Tree  Duck. 

With  a  habitat  extending  far  down  into  Central  and  South  America,  this  duck  yet 
occurs  along  our  southern  borders,  and  it  is  probable  with  greater  regularity  and  iu 
more  considerable  numbers  than  the  isolated  records  of  its  capture  would  seem  to  im- 
ply. A  specimen  is  in  the  Smithsonian  from  New  Orleans,  and  the  species  was  found 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado  River  by  Dr.  Palmer.  It  was  detected  at  Fort  Tejou, 
Southern  California,  by  Xantus,  while  as  high  up  as  San  Francisco  it  seems  to  be  of  not 
very  unusual  occurrence. 

To  the  notices  above  is  to  be  added  the  fact  of  its  occurrence  at  W^ashoe  Lake,  Nev- 
ada, where  the  species  was  found  by  my  friend  Mr.  Parker  in  the  early  part  of  this 
year  (1877).  He  succeeded  iu  shooting  three  out  of  several  large  flocks,  one  of  which 
specimens  is  now  before  me.  As  this  neighborhood  is  almost  destitute  of  trees,  it  is 
certain  they  do  not  spend  the  summer  here,  but;  probably  pass  on  to  some  of  the  heav- 
ily-timbered valleys,  as  the  Lower  Truckee,  which  would  appear  well  adapted  to  their 
peculiar  arboreal  habits.  Their  occurrence  here  may,  however,  be  somewhat  of  an 
accidental  nature,  as  Mr.  Parker  writes  that  they  were  seemingly  driven  iu  with  myri- 
ads of  other  fowl  by  a  severe  snow-storm,  and  that  neither  himself  nor  any  of  the  gun- 
ners of  that  vicinity  had  ever  seen  them  about  the  lake  before.  Notwithstanding  which 
fact,  it  is  by  no  means  unlikely  that  future  investigations  will  show  the  bird  to  bs  a 
regular  summer  resident  of  such  portions  of  this  region  as  are  suited  to  irs  needs. 

71.  Anas  iosclias  L. — Mallard. 

A  common  summer  resident ;  very  abundant  in  fall  and  winter. 

72.  Dafila  acuia  L. — Pintail. 

Most  abundant  in  the  late  fall,  when,  with  other  species,  it  appears  from  farther 
north. 

73.  Chaulelasmus  streperus  (L.). — Gadwall. 

Breeds  commonly,  and  in  fall  is  numerically  one  of  the  best  represented  of  the  family. 

74.  Mureca  americana  (Gm.). — Baldpate. 
Very  numerous,  especially  late  in  fall. 

75.  Querquedula  carolinensis  (Gm.). — Green-winged  Teal. 

Very  numerous.  Is  in  August  and  early  September  perhaps  the  most  numerously 
represented  of  any  of  the  family. 

76.  Querquedula  discors  (L.). — Blue-winged  Teal. 

Not  nearly  so  common  as  either  of  the  other  two  species. 

77.  Querquedula  cyanoptei-a  (V.). — Red-breasted  Teal. 

It  breeds  in  great  numbers  in  the  region  generally.  I  believe  it  migrates  south 
earlier  than  any  other  species.  I  failed  to  detect  its  presence  in  November,  and  thiuk 
none  remain  to  winter. 

78.  Sjyafula  chjpeata  (L.). — Shoveller. 

Very  abundant,  both  as  a  summer  resident  and  a  fall  migrant. 

79.  Aix  sj}onsa  (L.). — Summer  Duck. 
Rather  uncommon. 

80.  Fuligula  mariJa  (L.). — Greater  Blackhead. 

One  of  the  later  arrivals  in  fall  from  the  north.     Abundant. 
83  E 


1314        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

81.  FalUjuJa  marila  (L.),  var.  affinis,  EytoD. — Lesser  Blackhead. 
Like  the  preceding. 

82.  Fuligula  collaris  (Donovan). — Ring-necked  Duck. 

Breeds  abundantly  in  the  various  lakes.  I  found  the  young  as  late  as  September  S 
still  unable  to  fly. 

83.  Fuligula  ferina  (L.),  var.  americana  (Eyton). — Redhead. 
Present  in  the  fall,  but  never,  I  think,  in  great  numbers. 

84.  Fuligula  valUaneria  (Wils.). — Canvas-back. 

Was  told  by  Mr.  Parker  that  he  had  shot  quite  a  number  of  this  species  about  Washoe 
Lake. 

85.  Bucepliala  albeola  (L.). — Buffle-headed  Duck. 
In  considerable  numbers  in  fall. 

86.  Mergus  serrator  (L.). — Red-breasted  Merganser. 
Numerous. 

87.  Mergus  cucidlatus  (L.). — Hooded  Merganser. 
Quite  abundant,  but  occurring  late  in  fall. 

88.  Erismatura  ruMda  (Wils.). — Ruddy  Duck. 

Ajjparently  not  very  common. 

PELECANID.E. 

89.  Pelecarnts  tracliyryncUus  Lath. — White  Pelican. 

Only  appearing  on  Washoe  Lake  in  fall,  and  in  small  numbers.  Said  to  breed  in 
great  numbers  on  Pyramid  Lake,  to  the  north. 

GRACULID^. 

90.  Graciilus  dilo2)hus  (Sw.). — Double-crested  Cormorant. 
This  cormorant  is  found  on  the  various  lakes  in  summer. 

LARIDzE. 

9L  Lams  delawarensis  Ord. — Ring-billed  Gull. 

This  gull  was  found  in  great  numbers  on  Washoe  Lake  in  September  and  October. 
During  the  fall  its  distribution  throughout  this  region  is  very  general,  and  wherever 
found  it  is  abundant. 

92.  Larus  calif orniciis  Lawr. — Califoruiau  Gull. 

Mingled  with  the  preceding  were  a  few  of  this  species  or  variety. 

The  relationship  of  these  two  birds  appears  not  to  be  thoroughly  established  yet, 
and  in  a  series  of  eight  specimens  from  Washoe  and  Tahoe  Lakes,  I  find  several  in  the 
immature  plumage  which  I  assign  with  difficulty.  In  adult  plumage  the  present  bird 
is  said  to  have  a  larger  bill  than  the  preceding  species,  and  to  present  some  distinctive 
lioiuts  of  coloration,  especially  in  its  darker  mantle.  The  only  adult  bird  I  have  agrees 
well  with  the  diagnosis,  but  in  the  case  of  the  immature  plumage  there  appear  to  be 
no  thoroughlj'  reliable  distinctive  characteristics  which  will  serve  to  distinguish  the 
two  species. 

93.  Sterna  regia  Gambel. — Royal  Tern. 

Found  on  Washoe  Lake  in  small  numbers  late  in  the  fall. 

94.  Hydrochelidon  fissipes  (L.). — Black  Tern. 

Seen  in  small  numbers  on  Washoe  Lake  in  August.     None  were  present  in  November. 

COLYMBID^. 

95.  Colymius  torquatus  Bruun.— Great  Northern  Diver. 

Present  on  Washoe  Lake  in  November,  where  I  saw  two  individuals.  Was  informed? 
however,  that  its  occurrence  here  was  uu usual.  Its  disx>ersion  over  all  portions  of  the 
west  in  fall  and  winter  appears  to  be  general. 


APPENDIX   NN.  1315 

PODICIPID^. 

9G.  Podiceps  {^Txmophorus)  occidentalia  Lawr. — Western  Grebe. 

Breeds  abuudantly  in  Washoe  Lake.  The  young  still  in  the  down  were  taken  Angnst 
31.  One  of  the  main  subgeneric  characters  of  this  bird  is  the  absence  of  colored  raffs 
or  other  nnptial  ornaments  about  the  head  during  the  breeding  season,  it  thus  formiuo- 
a  striking  exception  to  the  general  rule  obtaining  in  the  family.  The  young,  the  G.Tat 
I  believe  ever  taken,  are  now  before  me,  from  the  above  locality.  They  scarcely  need 
description,  more  than  that  conveyed  in  the  general  statement  that  in  the  distribution 
of  colors  they  almost  exactly  resemble  the  old  birds.  In  this  respect  they  seem  to 
carry  out  the  peculiarities  of  their  parents,  inasmuch  as  the  young  of  the  other  trrebes 
are  all,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  curiously  streaked  or  mottled  in  their  first  or  downy 
plumage. 


LIST  OF  BIRDS  OBSERVED  ON  THK  EASTERN   SLOPE   OF  THE  SIERRAS,  NEAR  CARSON  CITY 
NEVADA,  Fl{OM   SEPT.  16  tO  NOV.  7  ;    WITH  NOTES. 

TURDID.E. 

1.  Titrdus  inigraiorius  L.,  var. propinqaus  Eidgw. — Nevada  Robin. 

During  the  mouth  of  September  the  Robins  began  to  be  rather  numerous  along  the 
mountain  sides,  the  number  of  those  resident  here  during  the  summer  having  doubt- 
less been  increased  by  the  arrival  of  birds  reared  farther  to  the  north,  while  they  were 
rendered  more  conspicuous  from' the  fact  of  their  having  flocked.  lu  early  November 
they  were  seen  in  great  flocks  at  difterent  localities,  where  were  found  various  kinds 
of  wild  berries.    The  majority  of  these  birds,  if  not  all,  pass  farther  south  to  winter. 

2.  Tardus  ncevius  Gm. — Varied  Thrush. 

A  male  of  this  species  which  I  saw  confined  in  a  cage  in  a  store  in  Carson  City  was 
said  by  the  owner  to  have  been  captured  during  the  previous  spring  in  the  adjoining 
mountains.  For  this  statement  I  cannot  vouch,  but  give  it  for  what  it  is  worth.  This 
thrush  has  never  been  recorded  from  any  locality  east  of  the  Sierras ;  yet  there  seems 
to  be  no  reason  why  during  the  migrations,  as  in  the  case  of  other  birds  possessing  a 
similar  summer  habitat,  the  species  may  not  occur  along  the  eastern  slope.  That  it 
actually  does  so,  however,  remains  to  be  proven. 

SAXICOLID.E. 

3.  Sialia  mexicana  Sw. — Mexican  Bluebird. 

During  the  mouth  of  September  and  early  October  this  species  was  rather  numerous 
among  the  pines  at  an  elevation  of  about  7,000  feet.  After  this  fewer  were  seen,  a  par- 
tial emigration  having  perhaps  taken  place,  or,  as  is  more  likely,  the  species  having  re- 
tired from  the  high  altitudes  to  the  valleys,  where  they  winter  in  considerable  numbers. 

4.  Sialia  arctica  Sw. — Arctic  Bluebird. 

At  the  time  the  preceding  species  bagai  to  diminish  iu  numbers  the  present  bird 
attracted  attention  by  a  corresponding  increase,  and  it  soon  almost  wholly  represented 
the  other  in  the  mountain  region.  They  winter  among  the  pines  and  in  the  brushy 
ravines,  forming  a  close  association  with  the  Titmice,  Nuthatches,  etc. 

SYLVIIDJE. 

5.  liegitlas  calendula  (L.). — Ruby-crowned  Kinglet. 

Abundant  during  the  fall  months  among  the  pines,  sometimes  in  small  companies  of 
their  own  species,  but  more  often  distributing  themselves  by  twos  and  threes  among 
the  flocks  of  winter  birds. 

PARID.E. 

6.  Lophoplianes  inornatus  (Gamb.). — Plain  Titmouse. 

A  resident,  but  not  very  numerous.  Inclined  to  favor  with  its  presence  the  cedar  and 
piuon  hills  rather  than  the  pine  region  proper,  from  which,  however,  it  is  not  entirely 
absent. 


1316        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

7.  Parus  montanus  (Gamb.)- — Mountain  Chickadee. 

Appears  to  be  the  only  other  representative  of  the  family  in  this  region.     A  con 
stant  resident  of  the  pineries. 

SITTID.E. 

8.  Sitta  carolinensia  Gm.;  var.  aculeata,  Cass. — Slender-billed  Nuthatch. 
An  abundant  resident  of  the  pine  timber. 

9.  Sitta pygmceaY'ig. — Pygmy  Nuthatch. 

The  most  abundant  of  the  tribe,  keeping  exclusively  in  the  pines,  among  which  they 
■wander  in  large  flocks. 

CERTHIID^. 

10.  Certhia  famiUaris  L.,  var.  americana,  Bon. — American  Creeper. 

Only  a  few  seen,  and  these  among  the  pines. 

« 

SYLVICOLID^. 

11.  Helminthox^liaga  celata  Say,  var.  lutescens  Ridgw. — Western  Orange-crowned   War- 
bler. 

This  variety  was  found  rather  common  during  September  about  Lake  Tahoe,  fre- 
quenting chiefly  the  brushy  thickets  on  the  mountain  sides.  It  probably  breeds  all 
along  the  eastern  slope. 

12.  Dendroica  audulonii  (Towns.). — Audubon's  Warblet. 

The  only  numerously  represented  species  of  the  family.  Not,  I  think,  nearly  as 
abundant  as  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  at  the  corresponding  season.  Keeping  generally 
in  the  pines,  but  also  seizing  much  of  its  food  from  the  ground. 

TANAGRID^. 

13.  Pyranga  hidoviciana  (Wils.). — Louisiana  Tanager. 

A  very  much  belated  individual  of  this  species  was  seen  September  18.  The  species 
had  passed  south  long  before. 

AMPELID.E. 

14.  Myiadestes  townsendii  (And.).— Townsend's  Solitaire. 

None  seen  till  the  first  days  of  October  ;  after  this,  small  companies  were  occasionally 
noted  in  various  localities  through  the  mountains.  Probably  more  or  less  pass  the 
summer  on  the  higher  summits. 

FRINGILLID^. 

15.  Carpodacus  casdni  Bd. — Cassin's  Purple  Finch. 

In  September  this  Fincb  was  not  uncommon  about  Lake  Tahoe.  After  which  none 
■were  seen,  the  species  having  migrated.     It  is  a  summer  resident  in  this  region. 

16.  Melospiza  me?odia  var.  lieermannii  (Bd.). — Heermann's  Song  Sparrow. 

Quite  rare  among  the  mountains.  Occasionally  one  seen  in  October  in  the  thickets 
along  the  streams. 

All  examples  of  the  Song  Sparrow  I  have  seen  from  this  region,  while  referable  to 
the  above  variety,  yet  mark  quite  a  decided  step  in  the  advance  towards  the  central 
region  form,  the  M.  xar.  fallax.  They  are  not  so  dark  colored  as  specimens  from  the 
California  coast,  and  the  bills  appear  to  be  somewhat  slenderer,  approximating  in 
these  particulars  to  fallax. 

17.  Juneo  oregonus  (Towns.). — Oregon  Snowbird. 

Very  abundant  everywhere.  I  presume  this  hardy  species  winters  in  the  mountains  ; 
at  least  many  remain  till  the  snow  falls  to  a  considerable  depth. 

18.  Zonoiricliia  leucoprys  (Forst.),   var.   intermedia   Ridgw. — Western   White-crowned 
Sparrow. 

This  bird  was  found  by  Mr.  Ridgway  breeding  abundantly  on  the  eastern  slope.     It 


APPENDIX    NN.  lol7 

is  fonnd  all  over  the  mountains,  and  in  fall  crosses  the  range,  and  is  found  but  little 
less  abundantly  in  Southern  California. 

Note. — The  Zonotrkhia  leucoplirys,  though  not  noted  by  us,  doubtless  occurs  mingled 
with  flocks  of  the  above  bird,  esiiecially  as  it  was  found  by  us  in  Southern  California. 

19.  Zonoiriclna  coronata  (Pall.). — Golden-crowned  Sparrow. 

The  great  mass  of  these  sparrows,  in  their  journey  southward,  keeps  on  the  western 
slope  of  the  Sierras.  It  occurs,  too,  along  the  eastern  spurs  in  fall,  but,  comparatively 
speaking,  in  very  small  numbers. 

20.  FassereUa  iliaca  (Merr),  var.  meganjncha  Bd. — Thick-hilled  Sparrow. 

This  appears  to  be  the  only  Passerella  occurring  along  the  eastern  slope,  where  it  is 
numerous  in  summer  and  fall,  and  where  I  believe  it  is  resident. 

In  a  recent  report  (187C)  I  was  led  to  combine  the  present  bird  with  P.  schislaeea, 
separating  them  from  the  P.  townsendi  and  iUaca  mainly  on  the  strength  of  the  differ- 
ent proportions.  Subsequent  examination,  however,  has  convinced  mo  that  the  genus 
is  represented  by  but  one  species,  and  that  tlie  three  western  forms,  townsendi,  schistacea, 
and  megaryncha  are  but  varieties  of  one  and  the  same  species.  These  under  dilterent  con- 
ditions of  climate  have  become  more  or  less  differentiated  from  the  original  type  till  they 
represent  well-marked  geographical  races,  the  iutergradation  of  which  with  each  other 
and  with  iliaca  it  is  perfectly  possible  to  show.  As  noticed  in  an  earlier  part  of  this  re- 
port, all  specimens  of  the  variety  megaryncha  tTom  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Sierras  show 
very  decided  intermediate  characters  between  the  extreme  condition  this  form  assumes 
in  the  Coast  Range  and  the  P.  schistacea  from  the  interior,  a  fact  to  be  expected  from  the 
half-way  position  of  the  region.  A  series  connecting  the  two  may  very  readily  be 
formed.  An  examination  of  the  material  in  the  Smithsonian,  much  of  which  was  col- 
lected by  the  expedition,  enables  us  to  speak  with  equal  confidence  of  the  close  rela- 
tionship existing  between  sc/iistocea  and /ownsewf/i.  Specimens  connecting  the  two  in 
a  very  complete  chain  may  easily  be  selected.  Hitherto  no  specimens  intermediate 
between  iliaca  and  townsendi  have  been  met  with,  and  though  the  differences  separat- 
ing them  have  been  chietiy  modifications  of  color  only,  differences  of  degree  of  intensity 
and  not  of  pattern,  this  has  been  deemed  sufficient  to  keep  them  apart. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  habitats  of  the  two  are,  in  the  northwest,  in  close 
juxtaposition  to  each  other,  iliaca  being  one  of  quite  a  number  of  eastern  birds  that 
in  the  north  find  their  way  across  the  continent  and  reach  Alaska.  Townsendi,  with  its 
summer  home  in  the  northern  jiortiou  of  the  Pacific  province,  also  reaches  Alaska,  and 
it  is  probable  that  here  the  two  forms  come  together.  At  all  events,  a  series  of  sixteen 
specimens  collected  by  the  expedition  in  California,  in  1875,  presents  unquestionable 
evidence  of  the  iutergradation  of  the  two.  Of  these  I  do  not  find  one  which  compares 
exactly  with  the  usual  style  of  townsendi,  as  it  appears  in  specimens  from  Kodiak, 
Sitka,  etc.  The  one  extreme  of  this  series  exhibits  quite  a  close  approach  to  the  dark 
olive-brown  of  townsendi,  with  its  uustreaked  dorsum  ;  the  other  in  its  light  condition 
quite  suggests  the  ferruginous  style  of  coloration  of  iliaca  ;  such  specimens  have  the 
back  obsoletely  streaked.  One  other  specimen  from  California  in  the  Institution  so 
closely  approaches  iliaca  that  it  was  so  labeled,  and  supposed  in  the  absence  of  others 
showing  its  true  relation  to  be  a  straggler  of  this  species.  In  connection  with  the 
above  suite  its  position  as  one  of  the  series  showing  the  intergradatiou  of  the  two 
forms  is  readily  seen. 

The  following  measurements  illustrate  the  relations,  in  size,  the  four  forms  bear  to 
each  other: 

P.  iliaca:    Wing,  3.40;  tail,  3.07;  bill,  .32;  tarsus,  .93;  (average  often  specimens.) 

P.  townsendi:  Wing,  3.20  ;  tail,  3.15  ;  bill,  .49;  tarsus,  .9-1 ;  (average  of  twenty-three 
specimens.) 

P.  schistacea  :  Wing,  3.13;  tail,  3.37;  bill,  .44;  tarsus,  .91 ;  (average  of  nine  speci- 
mens.) 

P.  megaryncha  :  Wing,  3.21;  tail,  3.58;  bill,  .51 ;  tarsus,  .93;  (average  of  eight  speci- 
mens.) 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  above  measurements,  schistacea  and  megaryncha  agree  in 
having  the  tail  considerably  in  excess  of  the  wing;  while  in  i/(rtcaand  townsendi  the 
wing  exceeds  the  tail.  In  townsendi,  however,  this  discrepancy  in  favor  of  the  wing  is 
very  slight,  and,  indeed,  in  some  few  specimens  the  two  are  equal,  or  the  tail  may  even 
be  slightly  in  excess  of  the  wing.  It  would  appear,  therefore,  that  iu  respect  to  the 
relative  size  of  these  parts,  townsendi  indicates  the  first  step  in  the  variation,  which  is 
seen  to  be  more  marked  in  schistacea,  and  to  find  the  limit  in  megaryncha. 

One  unexpected  fact  shown  by  these  measurements  is,  that  not  only  does  an  increase 
in  length  of  tail  take  place  in  the  three  western  varieties,  a  variation  shown  in  other 
species,  whose  habitat  extends  from  the  eastern  into  the  western  province,  but  a  de- 
crease in  size  of  wing.     The  difiereut  proportions  which  ensue  come,  then,  from  two 


1318  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

causes :  first,  actual  increase  in  the  length  of  the  tail ;  second,  actual  decrease  in  the 
length  of  the  wing. 

By  the  above  arrangement  the  four  forms  will  stand  as  follows  : 

PassereUa  iliaca  (Merr.).— Habitat :  Eastern  province  of  North  America  ;  breeds  from 
British  America  northward,  across  to  mouth  of  Youkon.  In  migrations  to  eastern  edge 
of  great  plains  ;  occasional  in  spring  in  Colorado  (Maxwell)  fide  Ridgway. 

PassereUa  iliaca,  var.  schistacea  Bd. — Habitat :  Middle  province ;  restricted  by  western 
edge  of  plains  and  eastern  slope  of  Sierras  ;  an  occasional  straggler  in  Kansas  and  Cali- 
fornia in  fall. 

PassereUa  iUaca,  var,  iownsendi  (Aud.). — Habitat :  Pacific  province  ;  breeds  in  north- 
ern Sierras  ;  Southern  California  in  winter ;  confined  to  western  slope  of  Sierras. 

PassereUa  iUaca,  var.  megarynclia  Bd. — Habitat :  Southern  Sierras,  eastern  as  well  as 
western  slope  ;  probably  a  resident  species. 

21.  Pipilo  macidatus  (Sw.),  var.  megalonyx  Bell. — Long-spurred  Towhee. 

I  saw  but  few  Pipilos,  and  these  on  the  brushy  foot-hills,  or  in  the  chaparral  of  the 
mountain  sides.  They  were  extremely  shy,  so  much  so  that  I  failed  to  secure  speci- 
mens. They  were  doubtless  of  the  above  variety,  as  the  variety  oregonus  is  a  more 
northern  form. 

22.  PtpiJo  chlorurus  (Towns.). — Green-tailed  Finch. 

Not  uncommon  in  October ;  probably  rather  numerous  in  summer. 

ICTERID^. 

23.  ScoJecophagus  cyanocephalus  (Wagl.). — Brewer's  Blackbird. 

Rather  numerous  during  the  fall  months  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Tahoe. 

CORVID^. 

24.  Corvus  corax  L. — Raven. 

Not  nearly  so  common  in  the  mountains  as  in  the  valleys  below. 

25.  Picicorvus  colunibianus  (Wils.). — Clarke's  Crow. 

A  very  abundant  resident  throughout  the  pine-region,  appearing  to  live  exclusively 
upon  the  pine-seeds. 

26.  Pica  melanoleuca  L.,  var.  hudsonica  (Sab.). — American  Magpie. 

As  noticed  in  the  previous  list,  scarcely  reaching  into  the  mountains,  and  but  few 
were  seen  on  the  immedia?te  borders  of  Lake  Tahoe. 

27.  Cyanura  steUeri  Gm.,  var.  frontaUs  Ridg. — Blue-fronted  Jay. 

Very  abundant  on  the  eastern  slope,  here  replacing  the  var.  maerolopha  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.    A  permanent  resident. 

TYRANNID^, 

28.  Empidonax  hammondi  (Xantus). — Hammond's  Fly-catcher. 

This  was  the  sole  representative  of  the  family  noted  by  us  in  the  mountains.  It 
probably  is  not  uncommon  as  a  summer  resident. 

CAPRIMULGID^. 

29.  Antrostomus  nnttaUi  (And.). — Nuttall's  Poorwill. 

Not  uncommon  in  fall  in  the  shrubbery  of  the  open  mountain  sides,  but  avoids  the 
pine-woods. 

TROCHILIDiE. 

30.  Selasphorus  riifus  (Gm.). — Rufous-backed  Humming-bird. 

The  only  humming-bird  seen  by  us  in  the  mountains.  Very  numei'ous  in  September 
and  the  first  of  October. 

An  unaccountable  fact  to  us  in  connection  with  the  present  bird  is  the  apparent  ab- 
sence of  all  adult  males  in  the  fall  from  localities  and  regions  where  the  young  and  fe- 


APPENDIX    NN.  1319 

males  abound.  In  the  fall  of  1875,  while  in  Southern  California,  vre  failed  to  find  a 
single  adult  male  in  the  valleys,  although  the  species  was  very  numerously  represented 
by  adults  of  the  other  sex  and  by  the  young.  The  absence  of  the  males  was  attributed 
to  the  fact  of  their  having  found  their  way  into  the  mountains,  though  this  seemed  a 
hardly  adequate  explanation.  The  experience  of  the  past  season  was  but  a  repetition 
of  that  of  the  previous  year,  except  that  our  ground  of  observation  was  exchanged  for 
the  mountains.  Where  ftAiales  and  young  were  to  be  seou  by  scores,  a  most  careful 
search  failed  to  discover  a  single  adult  male. 

Mr.  Eidgway,  we  learn,  had  a  similar  experience  in  fall  along  the  eastern  slope,  and 
was  equally  at  a  loss  to  understand  whither  the  males  had  betaken  themselves. 

ALCEDINID.^. 

31.  Ceryle  alcyon  (L.). — Belted  Kingfisher. 

Present  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Tahoe  in  small  numbers,  as  on  the  small  streams. 

PICID.<E. 

32.  Ficus  albolarvatus  (Cass). — White-headed  Woodpecker. 

Numerous  in  the  pine-woods,  to  which  it  strictly  confines  itself,  and  where  it  is 
resident. 

33.  Picas  villosus  (L.),  var.  h'arrisii  And. — Harris's  Woodpecker. 

Perhaps  the  most  numerously  represented  in  the  mountains  of  any  of  the  family 
where  resident,  but  not  confining  itself  so  closely  to  the  pineries  as  the  preceding  bird. 

34.  Picoides  arcticua  (Sw.). — Arctic  Woodpecker. 

This  species  appears  to  be  of  rather  common  occurrence  about  Lake  Tahoe,  where  I 
saw  it  occasionally  in  September,  October,  and  November.  It,  without  doubt,  breeds 
here. 

35.  Sph\jrapicu8  ruher  (Gm.). — Red-breasted  Woodpecker. 

Apparently  not  very  common.    Probably  a  few  breed  along  the  eastern  slope. 

36.  Sphyrapicus  thyroideus  (Cass). — Brown-headed  Woodpecker. 

Not  at  all  uncommon  in  the  pine-woods  about  Lake  Tahoe,  where  it  breeds  and  is  a 
constant  resident. 

37.  Jsyndesmus  toi'quatus  (Wils.). — Lewis's  Woodpecker. 

I  saw  but  few  of  this  species.  It  is  probably  a  summer  resident,  and  does  not  winter 
in  the  region. 

38.  CoTaptes  mexicanus  (L.). 

Numerous ;  less  so,  however,  in  the  mountains  than  in  the  valleys  below. 

STRIGID^. 

39.  Bulo  virginianus  (Gm.),  var.  arcticus  (Sw.). — Western  Horned  Owl. 
Abundant ;  its  hooting  heard  at  every  camp. 

40.  Otus  vulgaris  (L.),  YSiv.wilsoniamis  (Less.). — Long-eared  Owl. 

Common  in  the  thickets  of  the  meadowy  lands  bordering  upon  Lake  Tahoe. 

FALCONID^. 

41.  Falco  communis  Gmel.,  var.  anaiitm  Bon. — Duck  Hawk. 

Met  with  frequently  in  early  fall.  Probably  this  species  leaves  the  mountains  when 
severe  weather  comes  on  and  winters  in  the  valleys.  At  all  events  it  becomes  quite 
common  in  the  lower  regions  in  November. 

42.  Pandion  liaJiaius  L.,  var.  carolinensis  Gmel. — Fish  Hawk. 
Rather  rare ;  one  or  two  seen  about  Lake  Tahoe. 


1320        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS.     ^ 

43.  Circus  cyaneus  L.,  var.  hudsonius  L. — Marsh  Hawk. 

Present  in  the  meadows  through  the  mountains,  and  though  not  nearly  so  numerous 
as  below,  it  is  still  common. 

44.  Buico  horeaJis  (Gmel.),  var.  calurus  Cass. — Western  Red-tailed  Hawk. 

Abundant.  With  this  hawk,  as  is  the  case  with  most  of  tfie  species,  a  change  of  hab- 
itat is  made  necessary  in  the  late  fall,  when  snow  and  severe  weather  cause  the  disap- 
pearance of  the  small  mammals,  reptiles,  and  other  game  upon  which  it  preys.  They 
then  move  down  into  the  valleys  and  remain  about  the  lakes,  where  not  only  are  found 
an  abundance  of  water  fowl,  but  where  the  marshes  afford  them  an  unfailing  supply  of 
certain  small  rodents  through  the  season. 

45.  Archibiiieo  lagopm  (Bruun.),  var.  sancti-johannis. — Rough-legged  Buzzard. 

Very  numerous.  In  early  November,  in  a  meadow  of  considerable  size  not  far  from 
Lake  Tahoe,  I  found  that  scores  of  this  hawk  had  congregated.  From  one  to  half  a 
dozen  were  visible  at  any  hour  of  the  day,  sweeping  with  heavy  wing  over  the  surface 
of  the  turfy  ground,  and  now  and  then  dropping  with  almost  certain  aim  upon  one  of 
the  small  Meadow  Rats  {Arvicola  riparius)  whose  excavations  honeycombed  the  ground 
in  all  directions,  and  whose  immense  numbers  accounted  for  the  unusual  abundance  of 
the  hawks  at  this  one  locality. 

46.  Aquila  clirysaetus  (L.) — Golden  Eagle. 

Apparently  rather  more  numerous  in  this  region  than  tlie  succeeding  bird. 

47.  HalUetus  lencocephalus  (L.) — Bald  Eagle. 

Rather  rare.  In  fact  eagles  are  rarely  abundant  in  any  portion  of  the  west  which 
I  have  visited,  and  the  eight  of  one  is  an  event  of  sufficiently  unusual  occurrence  to 
attract  the  attention  and  elicit  comment  from  the  most  unobservant  of  a  party.  The 
white-headed  is  much  more  numerous  as  an  inhabitant  of  either  coast  than  as  a  bird 
of  the  interior. 

TETRAONID^. 

48.  Canace  ohscurus  (Say.) — Dusky  Grouse. 

The  whole  piue-timbered  region  lying  along  the  easteru  slope  of  the  Sierras  west 
of  the  Carson  Valley,  was  formerly  the  home  of  very  great  numbers  of  this  fine  bird. 
Some  of  the  stories  told  by  the  early  settlers  of  its  abundance  are  almost  incredible. 

The  sound  of  the  woodman's  axe  is  followed  by  the  almost  complete  abandonment  of 
a  locality,  and  chiefly  from  this  cause  and  from  the  persecution  they  have  been  subjected 
to  at  the  bauds  of  the  settlers  and  the  Indians,  the  localities  are  very  few  where  the 
grouse  still  exist  in  abundance.  The  steep  sides  of  many  of  the  deep  canons  have 
proved  inaccessible  to  the  lumberman,  and  still  retain  the  primeval  growth  of  forest. 
Here  the  grouse  still  maintain  their  foot-hold,  and  will  continue  to  do  so  long  after  the 
surrounding  country  has  been  swept  bare  of  woods. 

PERDICID.E. 

49.  Oreortijx pictus  {DovL^l.) — Plumed  Partridge;  Mountain  Quail. 

This  beautiful  bird  ranges  from  the  coast  across  the  mountains,  and  is  found  along 
the  eastern  slope,  where,  at  an  elevation  of  about  6,000  feet,  it  is  quite  abundant.  As 
noticed  before,  it  reaches  the  lower  foot-hills,  but  in  very,  much  diminished  numbers. 
Usually  a  resident  bird  wherever  found;  the  only  effect  winter  has  upon  their  range 
is  to  cause  them  to  abandon  the  higher  elevations  occupied  in  summer,  and  to  appear 
farther  down  upon  the  mountain-sides. 

The  mountains  of  this  whole  region  lying  about  Lake  Tahoe  seem  to  be  entirely 
abandoned  by  the  species  in  winter,  and  a  very  complete  migration  takes  place  during 
the  late  fall.  The  iiocks  then  pass  not  to  the  South,  but  westward,  and  winter  upon 
the  western  slopes  of  the  mountains,  descending  to  a  greater  or  less  distance  toward 
the  foot-hills,  according  to  the  depth  of  snow,  the  severity  of  the  weather,  &e.  Such 
at  least  is  the  explanation  offered  by  the  hunters  and  residents  for  their  disajipearance 
about  November  from  this  section,  where  earlier  they  are  very  abundant,  and  which 
I  have  every  reason  to  believe  is  the  true  one.  Those  living  in  summer  on  the  low  foot- 
hills about  Carson  remain  to  winter.  But  those  whose  summer  habitat  is  higher  up 
in  the  mountains  projier  thus  make  a  short  migration  to  a  region  better  adajited  to 
their  wants. 

The  snow  upon  the  eastern  slope  falls  to  a  great  depth,  and  the  winter  is  very  severe, 
much  more  so  than  ou  the  western  side — facts  which  appear  to  have  been  thoroughly 
acquired  by  experience  by  these  birds,  till  the  habit  of  migration  in  anticiiiatiou  of 
winter  has  become  a  tixed  and  constant  one. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1321 

SCOLOPACID.E. 

50.  GaUinago  wihonii  (Temm.)— Wilson's  Snipe. 

But  a  single  one  of  this  species  was  seen;  this  in  a  meadowy  spot  on  the  border  ol 
Taboe  in  October. 

ARDEID.E. 

51.  Ardea  herodias  L.— Great  Blue  Heron. 
Common  about  Lake  Taboe. 

52.  Botaurus  minor  Gm. — Bittern. 
Numerous  on  Lake  Taboe. 

RALLID.E. 

53.  Ealliis  virginianus  L. — Virginia  Rail. 
Saw  but  one,  in  a  marsb  near  Lake  Taboe. 

54.  FuUca  americana  Gm. — Coot. 

Extremely  abundant  in  October  and  November  about  and  on  tbe  lake. 

55.  Anser  hyperioreus  Pall. — Snow  Goose. 

Appears  from  tbe  north  in  flocks  in  October,  and  sometimes  make  use  of  tbe  lake  as 
a  temporary  stopi)iug-place. 

56.  Brania  canadensis  (L.) — Canada  Goose. 

Passes  over  the  lake  in  great  flocks,  but  less  often  rests  here. 

57.  Ana^  boschas  L. — Mallard. 

Numerous  in  fall.  This  species  appears  to  breed  regularly  in  the  little  ponds  and 
lakelets  that  abound  in  the  mountains,  and  two  or  three  flocks,  each  a  little  family 
group,  will  often  be  encountered  in  such  places  in  fall  ere  they  have  started  out  in 
search  of  winter  quarters. 

58.  Mareca  americana  Gm. — Baldpate. 
Also  occurring  in  fall. 

59.  Querquedula  caroJinensis  (Gm.)— Green-winged  Seal. 

The  only  teal  I  saw  about  the  lake.    This  species  is  rather  numerous. 

60.  Sjyatula  cJypeata  (L.)— Shoveller. 

Probably  breeds  about  the  lake,  but  only  in  small  numbers. 

61.  Fuligula  collaris  (Donovan.) — Ring-necked  Duck. 

In  small  numbers  in  fall ;  probably  summers  in  the  marshes  of  the  lake. 

62.  Oedemia ? 

One  of  the  large  Sea  Ducks  occurs  here  in  fall,  and  I  saw  several  ofi  the  shores  of 
the  lake ;  tbe  species  I  was  unable  to  determine  satisfactorily. 

63.  Mergus  serrator,  L.— Red-breasted  Merganser. 
A  few  seen  on  the  lake  in  October. 

PELECANID.E. 

64.  Pelecanus  trachyrynchiis  Lath. — White  Pelican. 
Occasionally  a  flock  strays  on  to  the  waters  of  tbe  lake  in  fall. 


1322        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

ORACULID^. 

65.  &raculu8  dllopJius  (Sw.) — Double-crested  Cormorant. 

A  few  of  this  species  are  said  to  pass  the  summer  on  the  lake,  where,  however,  they 
do  not  breed.  They  appear  to  leave  the  lake  early  in  October,  and  I  saw  none  at  the 
time  of  my  visit.     Mr.  Ridgway  has  identified  the  form  from  this  region  as  the   above 

LARID^. 

66.  Lams  delawarensis  Ord. — Ring-billed  Gull. 

I  shot  a  single  Immature  gull  on  Lake  Tahoe,  November  1,  which  I  refer  with  but 
little  doubt  to  this  species.  I  am  unable  to  state  the  numerical  proportion  which  this 
bird  bears  to  the  next  in  this  region  during  the  late  fall.  According  to  Mr.  Ridgway 
it  should  replace  entirely  in  winter  the  next  species. 

67.  Larus  californicus  Lawr. — Californian  Gull. 

Of  five  gulls  shot  on  Tahoe,  about  November  1,  four  appear  to  belong  to  this  spe- 
cies.   They  unquestionably  winter  here. 

COLYMBID^. 

68.  Colymhus  torqiiatus  Brunn. — Great  Northern  Diver. 

I  saw  a  number  of  specimens  in  possession  of  Mr.  McKinney,  which  he  had  shot  on 
the  lake  in  fall.    They  do  not  appear  to  be  very  numerous. 

69.  Fodiceps  auritus  (L.),  var.  califoj'nicus  (Heerm.) — American  Eared  Grebe. 

Very  numerous  all  along  the  borders  of  Tahoe  in  fall.  So  utterly  fearless  and  unso- 
phisticated are  they  that  they  swim  about  the  wharves,  utterly  regardless  of  the  pres- 
ence of  humans  but  a  dozen  or  twenty  feet  away. 


Appendix  J. 


keport  upon  the  hemiptera  collected  during  the  years  1874  and  1875,  by 

mr.  p.  k.  uhler. 

Peabody  Institute,  Baltimore,  Md., 

March  24,  1 877. 
Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  the  following  report  upon  the  Hemiptera  collected 
by  the  expedition  during  the  years  1874  and  1875. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  R.  Uhler. 
Lieut.  Geo.  M.  Wheeler, 

Corps  of  Engineers,  in  charge. 


E.  alternatus. 


HETEROPTERA. 

Subfamily  EURYGASTRIN^. 
Eurygaster,  Lap. 


Tctyra  alternata,  Say  ;  Amer.  Ent.  iii,  tab.  43,  fig.  3. 

Eurygaster  alternatus,  Dallas;  Brit.  Mua.  List.  Hemipt.  i,  p.  47,  No.  1. 

San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  September,  1874,  collected  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow;  also,  near 
•Colorado  River,  California,  July  20,  by  William  Somers. 


APPENDIX    NN.  1323 

Subfamily  ASOPIN^. 

PeriUns,  Stal. 

1.  P.  claiuluH. 

Pentatoma  clauda,  Say,  Jouru.  Acad.  Philad.  iv,  p.  312,  Xo.  2. 

San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  in  August,  Dr.  Yarrow  and  Mr.  Shedd ;  also,  Abiqniu,  N. 
Mex.,  in  September,  and  on  the  foot-bills  and  plains  of  tbat  Territory  in  October,  by 
Dr.  O.  Loew.    Also,  near  the  Mojave  River,  California,  in  July,  Dr.  0.  Loew. 

2.  P.  splendidiis. 

Zicrona  splendida,  Ubler;  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Philad.  1863,  p.  22. 

Found  at  Santa  Barbara,  Cal.,  in  July,  by  Mr.  Shoemaker,  and  in  Southern  Califor- 
nia, by  Mr.  Henshaw. 

ZiCKONA,  Am.  et  Serv. 

2.  cuprea. 

Zicrona  cuprea,  Dallas ;  Brit.  Mus.  List  I,  p.  108,  Xo.  2. 
Southern  Colorado,  in  June,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Cariieuter. 

Subfamily  HALYDINA.  v 

Brochymena,  Am.  et.  Serv. 
£.  olacura. 

Halys  obsciu-a,  H.  Schf. ;  "Wanz.  Ins.  v,  p.  68,  fig.  513. 

From  Pueblo,  Colo.,  in  July,  Mr.  Wilkiiis;  also  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  August  17, 
Dr.  O.  Loew. 

Prioxosoma,  Uhler. 
P.  poclopioides. 

Prionosoma podopioides,  Uhler;  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Philad.  1863,  vol.  ii,  p.  364. 
From  Santa  Barbara,  Cal.    Collected  by  Dr.  Loew. 

Subfamily  PENTATOMINA. 

EuscHiSTUS,  Dallas. 
1.  E.  crenator. 

Cimex  crenator.  Fab ;  Ent.  Syst.  iv,  p.  101,  Xo.  87. 

Pentatoma  obscura,  Palisot-Beauv  ;  Ins.  Afr.  et  Amer.,  p.  149,  pi.  10,  fig.  7. 

Collected  at  Santa  Barbara,  Cal.,  in  July,  by  H.  W.  Henshaw. 

'2.  E.  impictiventris. 

Euschistus  impictiventris,  St^l;  Enam.  Hemipt.  ii,  p.  26,  Xo.  21. 
From  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  in  August,  Mr.  Shedd. 

3.  E,  fissUia. 

Euschistus  fissilii,  Uhler  ;  In  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.  of  Montana  1871,  p.  396,  Xo.  1. 
Collected  in  Southern  Colorado,  June-July,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

4.  E.  serous. 

Pentatoma  serva,  Say ;  Heteropt.  Xew  Harmony,  p.  4,  Xo.  5. 
Euschistus  serous,  StM;  Euum.  Hemipt.  ii,  p.  26,  Xo.  19. 

From  San  Ildefonso.    Collected  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Chlorocliroa,  Stal. 
1.  C.  ligata. 

Pentatoma  ligata,  Say;  Heteropt.  Xew  Harmony,  p.  5,  Xo.  6. 

From  Camp  Lowell,  Ariz.,  September  9,  by  Mr.  Johnson. 


1324  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

2.  C.  Sayi. 

Chlorochroa  Sayi,  Stal;  Enum.  Hemipt.  ii,  p.  33,  No.  6. 

Pentatoma  granulosa,  Uhler ;  TT.  S.  Geolo^.  Survey  of  Montana  1871,  p.  398. 

Collected  at  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  in  July  and  August,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow ;  also 
in  August,  by  Mr.  Shedd ;  in  Southern  Arizona,  by  H.  W.  Henshaw ;  at  Tierra  Ama- 
rilla,  N.  Mex.,  September  15 ;  at  the  San  .Juan  Eiver  in  New  Mexico,  by  Mr.  Browne, 
and  on  the  plains  and  foot-hills  of  Northern  New  Mexico,  in  October. 

Thyaxta,  Stal, 

1.  T.  rugulosa. 

Pentatoma  rugulosa,  Say  ;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  7,  No.  16. 
From  Southern  Colorado,  in  October. 

2.  T.  perdiior, 

Oinex perditor.  Fab. ;  Ent.  Syst.,  vol.  iv,  p.  102,  No.  90. 
Thyanta perditor,  Si&l ;  Hemipt.  Fabr.,  vol.  i,  p.  29. 

Obtained  at  Camp  Bowie,  Ariz.,  August  1,  by  Mr.  Eutter;  at  Santa  F6,  N.  Mex.,  in 
June,  by  H.  W.  Henshaw ;  above  timber-line  in  New  Mexico,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpen- 
ter ;  and  in  the  Mojave  desert,  July,  by  G.  Thompson. 

Murgantia,  Stiil. 
M.  histrionica, 

Sfraehia  histrionica,  Hahn  ;  Wanz.  Ins.,  vol.  ii,  p.  116,  flg.  196. 
Murgantia  histrionica,  St&l ;  Enum.  Hemipt.  ii,  p.  37,  No.  4. 

Inhabits  Plaza  del  Alcafde,  Arizona,  in  August,  collected  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow  ;  Cave 
Spring,  Arizona,  July,  H.  W.  Henshaw ;  Pueblo  and  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  Dr.  H.  C . 
Yarrow ;  New  Mexico,  in  September,  by  S.  Bedell,  and  Northern  New  Mexico,  on  the 
plains  and  foot-hills. 

Banasa,  Stal. 

B.  sordida. 

Atomosira  sordida,  Uliler;  Proc.  Boston  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  1871,  p.  6. 

Originally  obtained  in  Cambridge,  Mass.  The  present  specimen  is  from  Tierra  Ama- 
rilla,  N.  Mex.,  collected  in  July  by  Mr.  Shedd.  This  is  the  first  record  of  the  occur- 
rence of  this  insect  in  the  region  west  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

AcANTHOSOMA,  Curtis. 
A.  criiciata. 

Edessa  cruciata,  Say;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  6,  No.  1. 

Belongs  to  the  regions  north  of  the  United  States,  but  the  specimens  here  reported 
were  obtained  at  Abiquiu,  N.  Mex.,  by  Dr.  O.  Loew. 

Family  COREID^. 

Subfamily  COREINA. 

Margus,  Dallas. 
M,  incons])icmis. 

Syromastes  ineonspicuus,  H.  Schf. ;  "Wanz.  Ins.,  vol.  vi,  p.  14,  fig.  570. 

Obtained  at  San  Ildefonso,  August  17,  by  Mr.  Shedd,  and  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow  ;  also 
in  Southern  Colorado,  June  5,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Chelixidea,  Uhler. 

C.  vitUgera. 

Chelinidea  vittigsr,  Uhler ;  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Pliila.,  vol.  ii,  p.  360. 
Collected  in  Northern  New  Mexico,  June-July,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Catorhintha,  Stal. 
C.  mendica, 

Catorhintha  mendica,  St&l ;  Entim  Hemipt.,  vol.  1,  p.  187,  No.  2. 

Collected  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter,  in  Southern  Colorado,  June  5  to  July  5. 


A.  trii 


APPENDIX    NN.  1325 

AxASA,  Aiuyot  et  Serv. 


Cimex  tnstis,  De  Goer;  M6m.  iii,  p.  340,  pi.  34,  fig.  20. 
Anasa  tristis,  St&l ;  Hemipt.  Fabr.  i,  p.  56,  No.  3. 


Collected  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  in  July,  and  at  -Sau  Ildefouso,  N.  Mex  ,  in  Au- 
gust, by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow ;  Southern  Colorado,  June,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 


S.  a2)kaHs. 


Subfamily  ALYDINA. 
Stachvocnemus,  Stfil. 


Alydus  apicalis,  Dallas;  Brit.  Mus.  List  TI,  p.  479. 
Stachyocnemus  apicalis,  St&l;  Euum.  Hemipt.  i,  p.  215. 

From  the  foot-hills  and  plains  of  New  Mexico,  in  October,  by  Lieut.  W,  L.  Carpen- 
ter. 

Subfamily  MICTINA. 

Paciiylis,  St.  Farg. 
P.  gigas. 

raehyliis  gigas,  Buriu. ;  Handb.  der  Ent.  ii,  p.  338,  No.  3. 
Collected  at  the  Bawie  Agency,  Ariz.,  August  15,  by  Mr.  Johnson. 

Subfamily  ANISOSCELIDINA. 

Leptoglossus,  Guer. 
1.  L.  eorculus. 

Anisoscelis  corntlus,  Say ;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  12,  No.  1. 

From  Tierra  Amarilla,  N.  Mex.,  July,  collected  by  Mr.  Shedd ;  and  from  Arizona,  by 
Mr.  Eutter. 

Narnia,  Stal, 
JN'  femorata. 

Kamia  femorata,  StM;  Stettin.  Ent.  Zeit.  xxiii,  p.  296,  No.  154.    St§,l.  Enum.  Hemipt.,  vol  1,  p. 
166,  No.  1. 

Collected  at  Camp  Lowell,  Ariz.,  August  23,  by  Mr.  Heushaw. 

Subfamily  BERYTINA. 

Neides,  Latr. 
JN".  spinosus, 

Berytus  spinosus,  Say;  Amer.  Ent.,  vol.  i,  pi.  14. 

From  Pueblo,  Colo.,  collected  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Subfamily  PSEUDOPHLCEINA. 

dasycoris. 
D.  humilis. 

Dasycoris  humilis,  Uhler;  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  of  Montana,  1371,  p.  403. 

Obtained  at  Colorado  Spirings,  Colo.,  in  July,  by  Dr.  l^arrow. 

Subfamily  RHOPALINA. 

CoRizus,  Fallen. 

1.  C.  Sidw. 

Lygreus  sidce,  Fab ;  Ent.  Syst.  iv,  p.  169,  No.  116. 

Corizus  sidce,  Signoret ;  Aim.  Soc.  Ent.  France,  ser.  3,  vii,  p.  9.5,  No.  32. 

Collected  near  the  Mojave  River,  California,  in  July,  Dr.  O.  Loew  ;  also  in  the  v  icinity 
of  the  Colorado  Kiver,  California,  July  20,  by  W.  Somers. 

2.  C.  hyaUTius. 

Lygceus  hyalimus.  Fab;  Ent.  Syst.  iv,  p.  168,  No.  115. 
Corizus  hyadnus,  Stal;  Hem.  Fabr.  i,  p.  66,  No.  2. 

From  Taos,  N.  Mex.,  in  August,  by  Mr.  Shedd:  from  Pueblo,  Colo.,  in  July,  by  Dr. 
Yarrow ;  and  from  Santa  Fe,  N.  Max.,  June,  Mr.  Henshaw. 


L.  irivittatus. 


REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

Leptocoris,  Kaliu. 


Lygceus  trivittahis,  Say ;  Journ.  Acad.  Philad.  iv,  p.  322,  No.  2. 
Leptocoris  trivittatus,  St&l ;  Enum.  Hemipt.  i,  p.  236. 

From  Southern  Colorado,  July,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Family  LYGAEID.E. 
Lygaeus,  Fab. 

1.  L.  recUvatns. 

LygoBus  reclivatus,  Say;  Journ.  Acad.  Philad.  iv,  p.  321,  No.  1. 

From  Southern  Arizona,  Mr.  Henshaw  ;  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mes.,  Dr.  Yarrow  and  Mr 
Shedd  ;  Cave  Spring,  Ariz.,  July,  Mr.  Henshaw  ;  Pueblo,  Colo.,  July,  Dr.  Yarrow  and 
Mr.  Wilkin  ;  Abiquiu,  N.  Mex.,  Dr.  O.  Loew  ;  Mojave  Desert,  Cal.,  July,  and  near  Mojave 
River,  July,  Dr.  O.  Loew. 

2.  L.  costalis. 

Lygceus  costalis,  H.  Schf.;  Wanz.  Ins.  vii,  p.  22,  fig.  706. 
Obtained  in  California. 

3.  L.  fasciatus. 

Lygceus  fasciatus,  Dallas  ;  Brit.  Mus.,  Hemipt.  ii,  p.  538,  No.  17. 
Lygceus  aulicus,  H.  Schf;  Wanz.  Ins.  vi,  p.  76,  fig.  646. 

Common  in  the  Atlantic  region  south  of  Massachusetts;  also  in  Texas,  Mexico,  and 
the  West  Indies.  The  only  specimen  in  this  lot  was  collected  in  Southern  California, 
by  J.  A.  Hasson. 

Melanocokyphus,  Still. 
M.  faceUts. 


Lygceus  /ctcetus,  Say ;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  13,  No.  2. 
8  of  New  Mexico  ;  June 

Melanopleurus,  Stal. 


From  the  plains  and  foot-hills  of  New  Mexico  ;  June  to  October ;  collected  by  Lieut 
W.  L.  Carpenter. 


M.  bistriangularis. 

Lygceus  bistriangularis,  Say  ;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  14,  No.  3. 
Melanopleurus  histriangulciris,  Stal;  Enum.  Hemipt.  iv,  p.  169. 

Collected  at  Camp  Bowie,  Arizona,  August  8,  by  Mr.  Albruiz. 

Nysius,  Dallas. 

1.  N.  angustatus. 

Nysius  angustatus,  Ulilsr;  United  States  Geological  Survey  of  Montana,  1871,  p.  406,  No.  2. 

Obtained  at  Pueblo,  Colo.,  in  July,  by  Dr.  Yarrow  and  Mr.  Wilkin ;  at  Fort  Garland, 
in  July,  Mr.  Hunt. 

2.  N.  californicus.  . 

Nysius  californicus,  Stal;  Eugenics  Eesa,  Hemipt,  p. '242,  No.  56. 

Collected  in  New  Mexico,  in  September,  by  S.  Bedell ;  at  Fort  Garland,  in  August,  by 
Mr.  Shedd ;  July,  by  Dr.  Yarrow,  and  in  Southern  California,  June-July,  by  H.  W 
Henshaw. 

IscHNORHY^x•HUS,  Fieb. 
I.  didymus. 

Lygceus  diclymns,  Zett;  Vet.  Akad.  Handl.  1819,  p.  71,  No.  20. 
Cymus  Franciscanus,  St&l;  Eugeuies  Resa,  p.  252,  No.  84. 
Ischnnrhynchus  didymus,  Fieber  ;  Euroj).  Hemipt.,  p.*199. 

Southern  Colorado,  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Geocoris,  Fallen. 
1.   G.  pallens. 

Geocoris  pallens,  StSl;  Eugenics  Resa,  p.  250. 

From  the  Mojave  region,  California,  in  July,  Dr.  Loew. 


APPENDIX    NN.  '  1327 

2.  G.  iuUatus. 

Salda.lmllata,  Say  ;^Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  18,  Xo.  2. 
Ophthalinicug  borealis,  Dallas;  Brit.  Mus.  List,  ii,  p.  5e5,  No.  8. 

A  specimen  from  Pneblo,  Colo.,  collected  by  Dr.  Yarrow;  and  a  pale  variety  was 
obtained  above  timber-line  in  New  Mexico,  by  Lieutenant  Carpenter. 

LiGYROCORIS,  Stal. 
X.  constrietus. 

Pamera  constricfa,  Say  ;  Heteropt.  New  H.Trmony,  p.  15,  No.  1. 
Beosus  abdominalis,  Guer;  La  Sagra  Hist,  de  Cuba,  Ins.,  p.  397. 

Soutbern  Colorado,  Juno  and  July,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter, 

Myodocha,  Latr. 
M.  scrripes. 

Myodochug  scrripcs,  Oliv;  Encyc.  Method.,  viii,  p.  106. 
Myodocha  petiotata,  Say ;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  19. 

From  New  Mexico,  August  23,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Trapezonotus,  Fieb. 
2.  nehulosus. 

Lygceus  nebulostis.  Fallen  ;  Men.  Cim.,  p.  65,  No.  7. 
Painera  fallax,  Say ;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  17,  No.  6. 
Trapezonotiis  ncbulosus,  Fieber;  Eur.  Hemipt.,  p.  190. 

From  Southern''Colorado,  June-July,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter;  also  found  above  tim- 
ber-line in  New  Mexico  by  the  same  gentleman. 

Peritrechus,  Fieb. 
P.  Frato'nus. 

Peritrechus  fraternus,  TJhler;  Boston  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  Proc,  1871,  p.  11. 

From  Tierr*  Amarilla,  N.  Mex.,  in  July,  collected  by  Mr.  Shedd.  . 

Subfamily  LARGINA. 

Largus,  Habn. 
L.  clnctus. 

Largus  ductus,  H.  Schf. ;  "Wanz.  Ins.,  vol.  vii,  p.  6,  fig.  683. 

From  Sienaga,  Ariz.,  August  23,  by  Mr.  Eutter;  from  Soutbern  California,  by  Mr.  J, 
A.  Hasson ;  Santa  Barbara,  Dr.  O.  Loew ;  Soutbern  Arizona,  August,  Mr.  Heushaw ; 
aud  from  Camp  Lowell,  October  17,  by  Mr.  Rutter. 

Family  PHYTOCORID.E. 

MiRis,  Auctor. 
M.  instahilis. 

Miris  instabilis,VhleT ;  Bulletin  U.  S.  Geolog.  Sarv.  of  the  Territories,  vol.  ii.  No.  5,  p.  50. 

A  very  common  insect  in  the  Atlantic  region  and  in  Texas.  The  present  specimen 
■was  collected  above  timber-line,  in  New  Mexico,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter,  and  also 
in  Southern  Colorado,  in  July. 

Phytocoris,  Fallen. 
P.  nuhilus. 

Capsus  nubihis,  Say;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  22,  No.  10. 

From  near  Colorado  Creek,  New  Mexico,  July  18,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

LopiDEA,  Uhler. 
L.  media. 

Capsus  medius,  Say;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  22,  No.  11. 

Collected  at  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  in  August,  by  Mr.  W.  C.  Shedd  ;  at  Tierra  Ama- 
rilla, N.  Max.,  in  September,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow;  in  New  Mexico,  September,  by  S^ 
Bedell. 


1328  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

Lygus,  Kahn. 

1.  L.  annexus. 

Lygus  annexus,  Uhler ;  TJ.  S.  Geological  Survey  of  Montana,  1871,  p.  413. 

From  Pueblo,  in  July,  by  Mr.  Wilkin  ;  Tierra  Amarilla,  N.  Mex.,  September,  Dr.  H.  C. 
Yarrow ;  Abiquiu,  N.  Max.,  Dr.  O.  Loew  ;  Northern  New  Mexico,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter 

2.  L.  lineatui. 

Lygoeus  lineatus  Fab ;  Ent.  Sj-st.  Suppl.,  p.  541,  Ko.  124-5.    Syst.  JRhyng.,  p.  234,  No.  152,  Cap- 
stis  4-vittatus,  Say,  Heteropt. ;  New  Harmony,  p.  20,  No.  5. 

An  inhabitant  of  many  parts  of  the  United  States  from  Northern  New  York  to  Texas. 
The  present  specimens  were  collected  in  Northern  New  Mexico,  in  June-July,  by 
Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter, 

3.  L.  lineolaris. 

Capsws  lineolaris,  Palisot-Beauv  ;  Ins.  Afr.  et  Amer.,  p.  187,  pi.  xi,  fig.  7. 

Common  in  most  parts  of  temperate  North  America.    From  Northern  New  Mexico, 
June-July,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

4.  L.  invitus, 

Oapsusinvitits,  Say;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  24,  No.  21. 

Sometimes  common  on  the  blossoms  of  Vitis  Idbrusca  in  June,  in  Maryland. 
A  variety  of  this  species  was  captured  in  Northern  New  Mexico,  in  June,  by  Lieut. 
W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Calocoris,  Fieb. 

1.  C.  rapidus. 

Capsiis rapidus.  Say;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  20,  No.  4. 
Capsus  multicolor,  H.  Schf ;  Wanz.  Ins.  viii,  p.  19,  fig.  795. 

Common  in  Eastern  United  States  and  in  Texas.     From  Pueblo,  Colorado,  in  June, 
by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow ;  and  from  Tierra  Amarilla,  N.  Mex.,  by  S.  Bedell. 

2.  C.  supertus. 

Calocoris  superbus,  Uhler;  U.  S.  Geog.  Survs.  "W.  of  lOOth  M.,'vol.  v,  1875,  p.  838,  No.  2. 
From  San  Ildeionso,  N.  Mex.,  August  17,  by  Mr.  Shedd. 

Resthenia,  Amyot  &  Sew. 
E.  insignis. 

Capsus  insignis,  Say;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  22,  No.  12. 
Collected  in  Northern  New  Mexico,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow  and  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Camptobrochis,  Fieb. 
C.  nehidosus. 

Camptobrochis  nebulosus,  Uhler;  U.  S.  Geolog.  Survey  of  Montana,  1871,  p.  417. 
From  Tierra  Amarilla,  N.  Mex.,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Stiphrosoma,  Fieb. 

5.  stygica. 

Capsus stygicus,  Say;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  24,  No.  18. 
From  Northern  New  Mexico,  July  18,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Agalliastes,  Fieber. 
A.  associatus. 

Agalliastes  associatus,  Uhler  ;  U.  S.  Geolog.  Survey  of  Montana,  1871,  p.  419. 
Collected  at  Pueblo,  Colo.,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Orectoderus,  Uhler, 

1.  0.  ohliquus. 

Orectoderus  ohliquus,  Uhler;  Bulletin  U.  S.  Geogr.  Surv.  of  the  Territories,  vol.  ii,  No.  5,  p.  54. 
From  Northern  New  Mexico,  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow, 

2.  0.  amcenus,  new  sp. 

Smaller  and  more  slender  than  0,  oWqmis.     Orange-fuh^ous,  polished,  not  obviously 
punctured,  the  hemelytra  dull,  excepting  the  long  cuneiform  silvery  white  streak 


APPENDIX    NN.  1329 

opening  from  the  base  of  the  corium.  Head  much  longer  than  wide,  polished,  narrowed 
behind  the  eyes,  the  width  between  the  eyes  scarcely  narrower  than  the  colluiu  ;  face 
moderately  decurving;  eyes  blackish,  reniforiu,  very  prominent;  antennie  moderately 
stont,  rod-like,  the  basal, joint  constricted  at  its  origin,  the  second  joint  very  long,  in- 
fuscated,  of  even  thickness  throughout ;  rostrum  blender,  infuscated,  reaching  upon 
the  venter.  Pronotum  nearly  bell-yhapeil,  longer  than  wide,  very  narrow  in  front, 
iinely  polished,  the  posterior  margin  concave.  Marginal  lines  of  the  corium  all  around, 
and  of  the  clavus,  brownish  ;  cuuens  infuscated  at  tip,  and  with  a  large  white  spot  at 
base  ;  membrane  fuliginous,  but  paler  at  the  basal  angle.  Legs  long  and  slender,  the 
tibiie  and  tarsi  tinged  with  piceous.  Venter  highly  polished,  orange,  a  little  infuscated, 
moderately  clavate  posteriorly.  Length  to  tip  of  venter  4J  millims.  To  tip  of  wing- 
covers  6  niillims.     Width  of  pronotum  Hmillims.  , 

A  single-wing  cover  is  in  the  lot  from  New  Mexico.  Other  specimens  have  been 
taken  in  Texas  and  Illinois. 

Family  ACANTHIADiE. 

Ac.vxTHiA,  Fabr. 
A.  lectularia. 

Oiinex  lectulanus.  Linn  ;  Syst.  N.at.  ed.  12.  vol.  ii,  p.  715,  No.  1. 
Acanthia  lectularia,  Fab;  Ent.  Syst.  iv,  p.  67,  No.  1. 
Acanfhia  lectularia,  Ainyot  &.  Serv;  Hemipt.,  p.  313,  No.  1. 
Acanthia  lectularia,  Fieber;  Eur.  Hemipt.,  p.  134,  No.  1. 

From  Nothern  New  Mexico,  October,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Family  ARADID^. 

Aradus,  Fab. 
A.  rectus. 

Aradus  rectus,  Say ;  Heteropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  29,  No.  4. 
From  the  foot-hills  of  New  Mexico,  October,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Family  PHYMATlDiE. 

Phymata,  Lat. 
P.  erosa. 

Cimex  erosus,  Linn ;  Syst.  Nat.  ed.  12,  vol.  ii,  p.  718,  No.  19. 
Uimex  Scorpio,  UeGeer;  Mom.  iii,  p.  3.i0.  pi.  3.5,  fig.  13. 
Phymata  erosa,  Amyot  &  Serv ;  Hemipt.,  p.  290,  No.  2. 

From  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  August  17,  Mr.  Shedd. 

Family  NABID^^. 

CORISCUS,  Schrank. 
C.  ferus. 

(Timex/enw,  Linn;  Fauna  Saec.,  p.  2.56,  No.  962. 
Nahi-s  ferus.  Fiber ;  Eur.  Hemipt.,  p.  161,  No.  9. 
Coriscus  Jerus,  St&l ;  Enum  Hemipt.  iii,  p.  113,  No.  13. 

Collected  in  New  Mexico,  and  at  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  June,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow  ; 
also  Southern  Colorado,  June-July,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter,  and  above  timber-line  in 
New  Mexico. 

Subfamily  EEDUVIINA. 

Prionotus,  Lap. 
P.  cristatus, 

Cimex  crutatus,  Linn  ;  Cent.  Ins.  Ear.,  p.  16,  No.  42.    Araren.  Acad.,  vol.  vi,  p.  399,  No.  42. 

jReduvius  novcnarius,  Say ;  Amer.  Ent.,  vol.  i,  pi.  31,  No.  2. 

Arilus  denticvlatus,  Westwood ;  Dniry  Illnst.,  vol.  ii,  p.  73. 

Prionotus  cristatus,  Uliler ;  Bulletin  U.  S.  Geo.  Surv.  Territ.,  vol.  ii,  No.  5,  p.  61. 

A  single  specimen  from  Northern  New  Mexico,  collected  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

PiNDUS,  Strd. 
P.  socius. 

Pindus  socius,  TJhler;  U.  S.  Geolog.  Survey  of  Montana,  1871,  p.  420. 
From  the  plains  and  foot  hills  of  Northern  New  Mexico,  in  October,  by  Lieut.  \V.  L. 
Carpenter. 

84  E 


1330  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

Subfamily  APIOMERINA. 

Apiomerina,  Hahn. 
A.  flavivenirls. 

Apiomerua  Jtaviventris,  H.  Schf ;  Tranz.  Ins.,  vol.  viii,  p.  77,  fig.  847. 

A  variety  of  this  species  was  collected  near  Santa  F6,  N.  Mex.,  in  June,  by  Mr.  Hen- 
shaw;  Northern  New  Mexico,  June  5  to  July  5,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter  ;  also  at  Bowie, 
Ariz.,  August  8,  by  Mr.  Albruiz. 

Subfamily  PIRATINA. 

Rasahus,  Stul.  (Nee  Auiyot.) 
E.  Ii(juttatu8. 

Petalocldriis  liguttatus.  Say;  Ht^teropt,  Xew  Harmony,  p.  33,  Ko.  2. 
I'irates  mutillarius,  Guer;  La  Sayra,  He  de  Cuba,  p.  410.     (Exclus.  syn.) 

From  the  Mojave  Desert,  California,  by  Dr.  O.  Loew,  and  from  Los  Angelos,  in  June 
by  J.  Brown. 

Melanolestes,  Stal. 

1.  M.  aidominaUs. 

Pirates  abdominalis,  H.  Schf.,  Wanz.  Ins.,  vol.  viii,  p.  63,  fig.  832. 
Collected  in  Northern  New  Mexico,  June-July,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

2.  M,  picipes. 

Pirates  picipcs,  H.  Scbf;  "Wanz.  Ins.,  vol.  viii,  p.  62,  fi?.  831. 
Peduviu» pun(,ens,  Lee;  Proc.  Philad.  Acad.  Xat.  Sci.  1855,  p.  404. 
Melanoleates  picipes,  St&l;  Enum.  Hemipt.,  ii,  !>.  107,  No.  3. 

From  Abiquiu,  N.  Mex.,  September,  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Subfamily  ACANTHASPIDINA. 

CONORHINUS,  Lap. 
C.  rubrofasciatus. 

Cimex  rubrofasciatus,  DeGeer :  M6tn.  iii,  p.  349,  pi.  35,  flg.  12. 

Conorhinus  rubrofanciatus,  Amyot  &  Serv.,  Hemipt.,  p.  384,  Xo.  1,  pi.  8,  fig.  2. 

From  Camp  Lowell,  Ariz.,  Mr.  Rutter,  August  23 ;  and  from  near  the  Colorado  River, 
California,  July  20,  by  Mr.  Somers  ;  also  from  the  Mojave  Desert,  by  G.  Thompson. 

Family  STENOPODID^. 

Stenopoda,  Lap. 

/S.  ciiUciformis. 

Cimex  culiciformis,  Fab  ;  Ent.  Syst.,  p.  728.  No.  162. 

fiteno2)oda  cinerea.  Lap,  Essai,  v.  26,  pi.  .52,  fig.  2. 

atenopada  cuUci/ormis,  Stal;  Hemipt.  Fabr.,  i,  p.  129,  No.  1. 

A  nympha  of  this  species  was  collected  at  Abiquiu,  N.  Mex.,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Family  SALDID.^. 

Salpa,  Fab. 
(S.  interslUialis. 

Acanthia  interstitialis,  Say  ;  .Toiirn.  Acad.  Pbilada.,  vol.  iv,  p.  321,  No.  1. 
From  Northern  Now  Mexico,  July,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Family  HEBRID.^. 

Hebhus,  Curtis. 
//  89fcr(«!(.t,  new  sp. 

Rolinst,  biunneo-fuscous,  benoaMi  chietly  bliick-piceons,  with  the  sternum,  coxaj,  and 
logs  te.stact'ous.  Head  stout,  not  so  long  nor  so  tapering  anteriorly  as  in  II.  jytisUliiH 
Fallen,  the  vertex  and  face  very  convex,  the  Ud  thickly  hairy  ;  antennae  dull  testaceous. 


APPENDIX  NN,  1661 

pubescent,  the  basal  joint  thickest,  narrowed  at  base,  longer  than  the  second,  the  third 
longest,  slender  like  the  succeeding  ones;  under  side  of  head  and  the  bucculiv  dull 
testaceous;  the  rostrum  slender,  reaching  upon  the  venter,  dull  testaceous;  eyes,  dark 
brown,  with  coarse  and  few  facets.  Prouotuiu  broader  than  long,  flattened,  the  humeri 
well  defined  by  a  brown  sulcue ;  impressed  line  between  the  lobes  distinct,  as  also  the 
three  fovear  on  the  centre,  those  of  each  side  less  distinct;  the  surface  very  minutely 
punctured ;  pleural  pieces  darker,  with  a  few  very  remote,  largo  punctures.  Veuter 
smooth,  blackish-piceous,  densely  sericeous  pubescent,  margined  with  dull  fulvous. 
Hemelytra  pale  brownish,  minutely  pubescent,  the  uervures  darker,  the  membrauo 
scarcely  reaching  to  the  tip  of  tlie  abdomen. 

Length  scarcely  2  millimeters.     Width  of  pronotum  J  millimeter. 

Habitat. — New  Mexico,  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter.  Saa  Ildefonso,  N.  Mox.,  in  July,  Dr. 
H.  C.  Yarrow. 

Family  HYGROTEECHID.E. 

HYGROTREcnrs,  Stal. 
H.  remigis. 

Gerris  remigis,  Say  ;  Hetoropt.  New  Harmony,  p.  35,  Ko.  1. 

From  water  on  the  plains  of  Southern  Colorado  and  Northern  Now  Mes.ico,  June, 
July,  and  October,  bj'  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Family  GALGULID.E. 

Galgulus,  Latr. 

1.  (1.  oculatus. 

Kaucoris  ocnlata,  Fab;  Syst.  Kliyng.,  p.  Ill,  No.  .'i. 

Oalijuhis  oculatus,  Li^tr ;  Hist.  Nat.  lu.s.,  xii,  p.  aSli,  pi.  'Jo,  fi;;-.  9. 

Oalyidus  bujo,  H.  Sclil';  Wauz.  lus.,  v,  p.  88,  tig.  5:J(). 

Collected  at  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  August  17,  by  W.  G.  Shedd  ;  Cave  Spring,  Ariz., 
Mr.  Henshaw. 

2.  G.  variegatus. 

Galgulus  viriegatus.  Guprin  ;  Icon.  Regne  Animal,  p.  352. 

Galgulus pulcker,  Stal ;  OlV.  Veteusk.  Akad.  Forhuudl.  1854,  p.  239,  No.  1. 

Santa  Barbara,  Cal.,  Mr.  Henshaw  and  Dr.  O.  Loew;  also  at  Al)i(iuin,  X.  Mex.,  Dr. 
H.  C.  Yarrow,  iu  September. 

Family  NAUCORIDxE. 

Ambrysus. 

A.  Sig)wreti, 

Ambrys%is  Signoreti,  St&l ;  Hetnipt.  Mex.  Stettin.  Ent.  Zeit.,  xsiii,  p.  460,  No.  33G. 
Naucons  Pocgi,  Amyot  &  Serv ;  Heiuipt.,  p.  434,  pi.  8,  fig.  5. 

Taken  at  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  July,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow ;  in  New  Mexico,  July, 
by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter;  and  iu  the  Mojave  River,  Cal.,  in  July,  by  Dr  0.  Loew. 

Family  BELOSTOMID.E. 

Belostom.x,  Auctor. 

B.  annurn)es. 

Belostoma  rtnnulipes,  H.  Schf ;  "Wanz.  Ins.,  viii,  p.  28,  figs.  iO'i,  804. 
A  nympha  was  taken  near  San  Ildefonso,  iu  July,  and  an  imago  at  Pagosa,  Colo., 
September  5,  by  Dr.  11.  C.  Yarrow. 

Pedixoc(^)RIS,  Mayr. 

1.  F.  macroiiyx. 

Pedinocoris  tnacronyx,  Mayr;  VerliautU.  Wien.  Zool.-Botan.  Gesel!,  l?C3,  \i.  350,  tub.  11,  iigs.  1-4 
Obtained  in  the  Gila  River,  Arizona,  hy  Dr.  C.  G.  Newberry. 

2.  P.indentata. 

Zaitha  indentata,  Hald.,  Proc.  Acad.  Philada.,  vi,  p.  364. 

Pedinocoris  hrachonyx,  SJayr;  Vtibandl.    Wien.  Zool.-15otan.  Gesell,  1503,  p.  351,  tab.  11,  fig.  5. 

From  the  Mojave  River,  California,  July,  Dr.  0.  Loew,  and  from  Keruville,  Cal.,  by 
Mr.  Henshaw,  September  2. 


1332        REPORT  OF  THE  CHIEF  OF  ENGINEERS. 

Abedus,  S(;'il. 
A.  brericej)s. 

Abedtts  breviceps,  Stal ;  Stettiner  Ent.  Zeit.,  xxiii,  p.  462. 

Collected  at  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex.,  August  17,  by  Mr.  Shedd ;  Camp  Lowell,  Ari- 
zona, August,  Mr.  Heushaw,  and  in  Arizona,  July,  by  Mr.  Rutter. 

Family  NOTONEOTID^. 

NoTOXKCTA,  Linn. 

1.  X.  undulata. 

Kotonecta  undulata,  Say;  Heteropt.    Xew  Harmony,  p.  39,  No.  1. 

From  Abiquiu,  N.  Mex.,  September,  by  Dr.  Yarrow,  and  San  Ildefonso,  N.  Mex., 
August  17,  Mr.  Sbedd. 

2.  N.  insulata. 

Kotonecta  insulata.  Kirby  ;  Fauna  Bor.  Anifr.,  iv,  p.  285,  No.  399. 
Notonecla  rugosa,  Fieber  j  Rhynchotographien,  p.  52,  Ifo.  7. 

Collected  at  Camp  Lowell,  Ariz.,  in  August,  by  Mr.  Henshaw,  and  elsewhere  in  Ari- 
zona, in  July,  by  Mr.  Rutter. 

Family  CORISIDAE. 

CoRiSA,  Geoff. 

1.  C.  inierrupla. 

Gorixa  interrupta,  Say;  Jonrn.  Acad.  Philada.,  iv,  p.  328,  Jfo.  1. 

From  New  Mexico,  in  October,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter,  and  from  San  Ildefonso  , 
N.  Mex.,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow. 

2.  C.  dlternala. 

Corixa  alternata,  Say  ;  Joiirn.  Acad.  Philada.,  iv,  p.  329,  No.  2. 

From  San  Juan  River  in  New  Mexico,  by  Mr.  Browne. 

3.  C.  sntilis. 

Corixa  sntilis,  Uhler;  Bulletin  F.  S.  Geogr.  Sarv.  of  the  Territ.,  vol.  ii,  No.  5,  p.  73. 
From  the  plains  of  Northern  New  Mexico,  in  October,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

IIOMOPTKRA. 
Family  STRIDULANTIA. 

Cicada,  Fab. 

1.  C.  sijnodica. 

Cicada  synodica.  Say  ;  Joiirn.  Acad.  Philada.,  vol.  iv,  p.  334,  No.  6. 
From  Southern  Colorado,  June-July,  by  Lieut.  W.  L,  Carpenter. 

2.  C.  rimosa. 

Cicada  rimosa,  Say  ;  Joarn.  Acad.  Philada.,  vol.  vi,  p.  235,  No.  2. 
Collected  in  Southern  Colorado,  Juue-July,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

^Family  MEMBRACID.E. 

Cere.sa,  lairm. 
0  C.  buhalus. 

CMcmhracis  huhalus.  Fab.,  Ent.  Syst .  -vol.  iv.  p.  14.  No.  23. 

/< '  resa  bubalus.  Fitch  ;  Catalogue  of  lus.  N.  Y.  State  Cabinet,  p.  50,  No.  082. 

From  San  Ildefonso,  N,  Mex.,  and  near  Pueblo,  Colo.,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow ;  also  from 
San  Ildefonso,  by  Mr.  Shedd. 


.APPENDIX    NX.  1333 

0  ^Smilia,  Geruiar. 

S.  rau. 

0  Meinbraeis  vau,  Say :  Journ.  Acail.  Philada.,  vol.  vi,  p.  2!)3,  No.  — . 
■/ Sinilia  vau,  Fitcb  ;  Cat.  o£  lus.  of  X.  Y.  State  Cabinet,  p.  48,  No.  658. 

Collected  in  Northern  New  Mexico,  June-July,  and  also  in  October,  hy  Lieut.  W.  L. 
Carpenter. 

Q  0  Campylkxciii.v,  Stal. 

C.  curvata. 

C\Mcmbracis  curvata.  Fab.,  Syst.  Rhyng.,  p.  lH,  No.  34. 

O Membracis  laiipeti.  Say  ;  Long'.s  E.\ped.,  ii,  p.  30'J,  No.  5. 

/^Enchenopa  Antonina.  SValk  ;  Brit.  Miis.  List.  Hoiuopt.  ii,  pp.  488-401,  Nos.  32,  33,  35,  36,  37. 

qE.  venom,  Walk  ;  IJrit.  ]ilus.  List.  Homopt.  ii,  pp.  4H8-4!»1,  No3.  32,  33,  35,  36,  37. 

r)E.  denm.  Walk  ;  Biit.  Mas  List.  Homopt.  ii,  pp.  488-491,  Nos.  Wi,  33,  35,  36,  37. 

C>E  fiigkla.  Walk  ;  Brit.  Mua.  List.  Homopt.  ii,  pp,  488-491,  Nos.  ii,  3),  3.5,  36,  37. 

oE.'bimaculata,  Walk;  Brit.  Mas.  List.  Homopt.  ii,  pp.  488-491,  Nos.  32,  33,  35,  30,  37. 

Collected  in  New  Mexico,  by  Mr.  Eutter. 

O 

PUBLILIA,    Still. 

r.  modes  la. 


o 


_y^Publilia  inodesta,  Uliler ;  Bulletin  U.  S.  Geolog.  Survey  of  the  Ten-it.,  vol.  ii.  No.  5,  p.  78,  No.  2. 

Collected  at  San  Ildefoiiso,  N.  Mex.,  by  Dr.  H.  C.  Yarrow,  and  at  Cave  Spring,  Ariz.> 
by  Mr.  Honshaw. 

"^Darius,  Fab. 

0 
An  immature  specimen  of  species  allied  to  D.  lateraU-s,  Fab.,  was  in  the  collection  of 
Dr.  p.  Loew,  from  the  Mojave  Desert,  California. 

0 
Q  Telamoxa,  Fitch. 

T.pyramidata,  new  sp. 

Similar  in  form  to^.  querci,  Fh.,  but  not  qnite  so  broad,  the  base  of  the  dorsal 
prominence  more  compressed.  Color  (of  the  alcoholic  specimen)  yellowish,  clouded 
with  brown,  particularly  on  the  sides  aud  tip  of  the  prominence;  also  at  the  end  of 
the  scutellum,  and  ou  the  base  aud  more  largely  on  the  tip  of  the  hemelytra.  Head 
uneven,  yellowish,  remotely,  finely  and  irregularly  punctured  with  brown  ;  cheeks 
and  rostrum  hairy.  Pronotum  with  brown,  coarse,  sunken  punctures,  the  punctures 
finer  anteriorly  and  placed  less  closely,  and  so,  also,  a  little  way  from  the  apex  ;  cen- 
tral cariuate  line  interruptedly  brown,  smooth ;  humeri  prominent,  laminar,  almost 
rectangular.  Dorsal  prominence  subpyraiuidal,  compressed  above,  the  tip  rounded, 
edged  with  piceous,  with  a  few  coarse,  deep,  dragged  punctures,  which  are  bounded 
by  tumid,  almost  linear,  oblique  interstices  ;  the  cariuate  line  continued  to  the  tip  of 
pronotum,  aud  paler  both  below  and  behind  the  summit ;  the  apex,  with  four  irregu- 
lar, longitudinal  rows  of  punctures,  with  raised  linear  interstices  ;  lateral  edge  smooth 
pale,  somewhat  interrupted  with  browu.  Hemelytra  obscured  hyaline,  with  a  large 
oval  spot  at  tip ;  their  extreme  base,  the  two  upper  nervures  on  the  middle,  and  the 
punctures  bounding  the  nervures  each  side  throua;hout  their  length  brown.  Legs  yel- 
lowish, tinged  with  piceous,  the  tibi;e  spotted  witli  brown  on  their  outer  sides  ;  bristles 
pale  yellowish,  the  base  and  extreme  tip  of  tarsi,  and  the  nails  piceous.  Venter  black- 
ish, with  the  incisures  yellowish. 

The  hemelytra  extend  considerably  beyond  the  jironotum  and  are  obliquely  nar- 
rowed at  tip. 

Length  to  tip  of  pronotum,  S  millimeters  ;  to  tip  of  hemelytra,  9  millimeters.  Width 
between  the  humeral  angles,  4  millimeters.  Altitude  to  summit  of  dorsal  pro.ninence, 
scant  4  millimeters. 

Collected  in  Southern  Colorado,  in  .luly,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Family  FULGORID^. 

^  '     ^   SCOLOI'S,  Germ  a  r. 

^  S.  sulcipes. 

"^  Xi  Fuljnra  sidcipes,  S.iy  ;  Journ.  Philada.  Acad.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  335. 

Obtained  in  Southern  Colorado,  June-July,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 


1334  REPORT    OF    THE    CHIEF    OF    ENGINEERS. 

Ofamtlt  TETTIGONID.E. 

f^Pp.ocoxiA,  Amyot  &  Serv. 
.    r.  costalis. 

CTetUgonia  costalis,  Fab.,  Ent.  Syst.,  Suppl.,  p.  510,  Noe.  22,  23.    Signoret,  Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  Franco, 

3d  ser.,  ii,  p.  359,  pi.  12,  lig.  8. 
CCercopig  marginella,  Fab.,  Syst.  Ehyng.,  p.  96,  No.  44. 
OCercopis  lateralis,  Fab.,  Ent.  Syst.,  Suppl.,  p.  524,  No.  24.    Coqnebert,  Illustr.,  vol.   ,    .  35,  tab 

9.  tig.  3. 
QTettigonia  lugevs,  Valker  :  Brit.  Mns.  List,  Homopt.,  iii,  p.  775,  No.  108. 
O  Tettigonia  pyrrhotelus,  "Walk.,  1.  c.  iii,  p.  775,  No.  109. 

Widely  tlistribnted  iu  North  America,  occuring  on  both  sides  of  the  coutinent,  and 
as  frequent  iu  the  cold  north  of  British  America  as  iu  the  warm  regions  of  the  sub- 
tropics. 

Captured  near  Abiquiu,  N.  Mex.,  by  Dr.  O.  Loew. 

Tettigoxia,  Sign.  (Geoff.) 
''^'.  Mo'oglypMca. 

'■■   Tettigonia  Meroglyphica,  Say ;  Jour.  Acad.  Philada.,  vol.  vi.,  p.  313,  No.  6. 
Taken  in  Northern  New  Mexico,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter,  and  in  the  Mojave  Desert, 
in  July,  by  Dr.  O.  Loevr. 

QIelochara,  Fitch. 
0  n.  communis. 

\/Helochara  communis.  Fitch  ;  Heteropt.,  New  York  State  Cabinet,  p.  56.,  Nos.  753,  754. 
Taken  in  Northern  New  Mexico,  in  July,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Bythoscopus. 
B.  siccifolius. 

Bythoscopus  siccifolius,  Ubler ;  Bulletin  U.  S.  Geolog.  Survey  of  the  Temtories,  vol.  ii,  p.  93, 
No.  2. 

Taken  in  New  Mexico,  September,  by  Lieut.  W.  L.  Carpenter. 

Many  specimens  of  Aphid^,  obtained  from  various  kinds  of  plants,  are  included  in 
several  of  the  bottles,  but  they  are  changed  too  much  by  their  alcoholic  bath  to  admit 
of  correct  determination. 


INDEX 


INDEX   TO   NAJrES   OF   PERSONS. 


Berf;lai)<l,  Lient.  E..  ]21'2, 12:0. 

Biruie,  Lient.  R.,  1262. 

Bullock,  J.,  1257. 

Cameron.  S.  B.,  1257. 

Carpenter,  Frank,  1212,  1278. 

Church,  John  A.,  1212,  1247,  1284. 

Conkling.  A.  R.,  1248. 1278, 1285,1295, 1298. 

Cobles,  W.  A..  1262,  1272. 

Curtis,  M.,  1266. 

Daggett,  R.  M.,  1286. 

De  Groot,  1300,  1301. 

Duliois,  A.,  1278. 

Dunn,  G.  M..  1273,  1274. 

Dunn,  L.,  1273,  1274. 

Easten,  J.,  1262. 

Ford.  Sergt.  G.  W.,  1278. 

French,  B.  P.,  1262. 

Gunter,  E.  T.,  1212. 

Heushaw,  H.  W.,  1248,  1278,  1303. 

Howell,  C.  H.,  1256. 

Kahler,  E.  1219. 

Kampf,  Dr.  F.,  1219,  1220,  1257,  1258. 

Karl,  A.,  1247,  1257. 

Kennedy,  T.,  1273. 

King,  C^,  12.58. 

Klett,  F.,  1251. 

Jackson,  T.,  1287. 

James,  Mr.,  1301. 

Le  Conte,  Prof.  J.,  1287,  1291. 

Lee,  T.  M.,  1255,  1256. 

Leembruggen,  Mr.,  1301. 

Lockwood,  G.  M.,  1212. 

Loevr,  Dr.  O.,  1212,  1252. 

Loorani,  W.,  12.55,  12.56. 

Macomb,  Lieut.  M.  M.,  1278,  1304. 


Marcou,  Prof.  J.,  1211. 

Marshall,  Lieut.  W.  L.,  1211,  12.56. 

Maxson,  F.  O.,  1273,  1274. 

McKinney,  J.,  12b7. 

Miner,  E.  D.,  1255. 

Mitchell,  A.  R.,  1273. 

Morrison,  Lieut.  C.  C,  1273. 

Myer,  A.  J.,  1246. 

Nell,  L.,  12.51. 

Niblack,W.C.,  1251,  1252. 

Niver,  P.  D.,  1266. 

O'Neil,  Mr.,  1272. 

Owen,  A.  K.,  1251. 

Parker,  H.  G.,  1304. 

Putnam,  Prof.  F.  W.,  1212,  1248. 

Raffertv,  J.,  1257. 

Ridgway.  R..  1304, 1307. 

Rocroft,  E.,  1273. 

Rothrock,  Dr.  J.  T.,  1212,  1248. 

Sanchez,  M.,  1273. 

Seckels,  L.,  1220,  1257,  1258. 

Smith.  Prof.  H.  L.,  1287. 

Spiller,  J.  C,  1262,  1266,  1272. 

Stevenson,  Prof.  J.,  1253,  1300. 

Stewart,  Prof.  W.  F.,  1286. 

Sutro,  A.,  1219. 

Symons,  Lieut.  T.  W.,  1211,  1257. 

Thompson,  G.,  12.55, 1256. 

Tillman,  Lieut.  S.  E.,  1211.  1253. 

Wotherspoon,  Lieutenant  W.  W.,  1272. 

White,  Professor,  1299,  1300. 

Whitehill,  H.  R.,  1290. 

Willig,  G.,  1262. 

Wood,  S.  F.,  1262. 


INDEX   TO   GEOGRAPICAL  NAMES. 


Basins : 

Arkansas,  1218 
Great  Interior,  1218. 
Rio  Grande,  1218. 

Canons : 

American  Fork,  1293. 
Black  Rock,  1265. 
Blackwood,  1290. 
Brunswick,  1283. 
Clear  Creek,  1288. 
Comanche,  1276. 
El  Dorado,  1283,  128G- 
Gilmore's  1293. 
Hell,  1276. 
King's,  1279. 
Long's,  1228,1275. 
Truckee,  1295. 


Cities,  towns,  &c. : 

Abo,  1277. 

Anton  Chico,  1232,  1233. 
Austin,  1239, 1240, 1243, 1244, 1265, 1269 
Beckwith's  Store,  1234. 
Belleville,  1268. 
Cauon  City,  1224,  1226,  1227. 
Carson,  1211,  1234,    1236,  12.37,  1238, 
•  1240, 1255. 

Cienega  de  Tula,  1233, 
Clan  Alpine,  1265. 
Claraville,  1295. 
Colorado  Springs,  1227. 
Coyote,  1299. 
Dayton,  1236,  1237. 
Elizabethtown,  1275. 
Ellsworth,  1243,  1244,  1245, 1267,  12C9. 
El  Moro,  1275. 


II 


INDEX. 


Cities,  &c.— Coutiimed. 
Fair  Play,  1224.  1225. 
Florrissant,  1224. 
Genoa,  1238,  1286. 
Gleubrook, 1279,  1289. 
lone,  1243,  1267,  1269. 
La  Junta,  1223. 
La  Liendre,  1233. 
Lander,  1271. 
Las  Lunas,  1229,  1231. 
Libson,  1270. 
Lodi,  1243. 
La  Plata,  126.5. 
Los  Posos  del  Pine,  1232. 
McKinuej-'s,  1237. 
Manzano,  1231. 
Milford,  1234. 
Milton,  1235. 
Mineral  Hill,  1283. 
Ojo  de  las  Casas,  1231. 
Ojo  de  la  Quinsa,  1231. 
Patterson,  1265. 
Pueblo,  1223,  1J24,  1251. 
Reno,  1234,  1235,  1254. 
Eosita,  1226. 
Rowland's,  1238, 1280. 
Santa  F6,  1228,  1229. 
Sawyer's  Ranch,  1281. 
Schniidtlein's  Ranch,  1244. 
Socorro,  1229,  1230,  1231,  1277. 
South  Arkansas  Post  Office,  1225. 
Stillwater,  1264. 
Summit  City,  1267. 
Sierraville,  1235,  1254. 
Steamboat  Springs,  1236,  1238. 
Tahoe  City,  1295. 
Tanques  de  Juau  Lujan,  1233. 
Tejique,  1232. 
Tijeras,  1229. 
Trinidad,  1228, 1275,  1301. 
Truckee,  1235,  1237. 
Tyler's  Station,  1265. 
Valencia,  1230. 
Yirgiuia  City,  1237, 1238. 
Wadswortb,  1241,  1242,  1243. 
Walsenburg,  1303. 

Creeks: 

Bench,  1265. 
Call's,  1260. 
Mosca,  1225,  1226. 
Pass,  1246. 
Prcsser,  1253. 
Putnam,  1266. 
Sangre  de  Christo,  1246. 
Smith's,  1266. 
Tarrvall.  1224,1251. 
Tene.ia,  1299. 

Forts : 

Craig,  12.30. 

Lyou,  1211,  1228,  1233,  1251. 

Union,  1298. 

Carson,  1264,  1268. 

Cascade,  1281,  1290,  1291. 

Dall's,  1260. 

Donner,  1253. 

Echo,  1290,  1293. 

Fallen  Leaf,  1281,  1290  1291,  1292. 


Lakes— Continued. 
Gilmore,  1294. 
Honey,  1255. 

Marlette's,  1260,  1280,  1288. 
Independence,  1253. 
Quail,  1294. 

Tahoe,  1218, 1245,  1287. 
Pyramid,  1279. 
Twin,  1288. 
Webber,  1253. 

Lodes : 

Comstock,  1246,  1258,  1284. 
Williams,  1290. 
Woodstock,  1290. 

Mines: 

Ayres  Consolidated,  1243. 

Belcher,  1261. 

Big  Bonanza,  1258. 

Canada,  1270. 

Chollar  Potosi,  1261. 

California,  1258,  1261. 

Clear  Creek  Caiion,  1290. 

Clipper,  1269. 

Consolidated  Virginia,  1258,  1261. 

Crown  Point,  1261. 

Emerald,  1289. 

Grant  and  Colfax,  1270. 

Hale  and  Norcross,  1259. 

Illinois,  1267,  1270. 

Imperial  and  Empire,  1259. 

Imperial,  1261. 

Justice,  1258,  1261. 

Last  Chance,  1270. 

Lodi,  1270. 

Mint,  1258 

Montreal,  1289. 

Mount  Vernon,  1270. 

Niagara,  1290. 

North  Carson,  1247. 

Ophir,  1261. 

Overman,  12.58,  1261. 

Savage,  1258,  1259. 

Storm  King,  1269. 

Virginia  City  Company's  Coal,  1286. 

ITIining:  Companies  : 

Ayres  and  Hopkins,  1248. 
All  Right,  1248. 
Emerald,  1248. 
Gould  and  Baruhart,  1248. 
Huston,  1248. 
Ida  Ayres,  1248. 
Manhattan  Silver,  1269. 
Montreal,  1248. 
North  Carson,  1248. 
Ural  Silver,  1269. 

Mining:  Districts: 

Comstock,  1218. 
Creston,  1252. 
Eagle  and  Washoe,  1247. 
El  Dorado,  1252. 
Hardscrabble,  1252. 
Lodi,  1267, 1270. 
Mammoth,  1269. 
Union,  1269. 
Washoe,  1284. 

Mount : 

Como,  1283. 
Lyou.  1263,  1272. 


INDEX. 


Itl 


MOMiit— Continued. 
Prometheus.  1266. 
Rose,  1272,  1278,  1289. 
Raw,  1263. 
Tallac,  1281,  1293. 

IVIoiiiitaiiis ; 

Cerillos,  1276. 
Cooio.  1286. 
New  Placer,  1276, 
Saudia,  1276. 
Sau  Isidro,  1276. 
San  Pedro,  1276. 
Socorro,  1277. 
Turkey,  1298,  1299. 

Passes ; 

Abo.  1277. 
Beckwoth's,  1255. 
Pass  Creek,  1246. 
Raton,  1275. 
Sand  Spring,  1263. 
Taos,  1228, 1275. 

Peaks : 

Basalt,  1272. 
Bunker  Hill,  1272. 
Cory's,  1272. 
Davies',  1272. 
Desatoya,  1272. 
Fairview,  1272. 
Freers,  1278,  1289. 
Giant,  1272. 
Job's,  1289, 
Job's  Sister,  1289, 
Laughlin's,  1299. 
Lodi,  1270. 
Ocate,  1298. 
Orphan,  1303. 
Paradise,  1272. 
Poston,  1267,  1272. 
Pyramid,  1281, 1293. 
Spanish,  1303, 
Srate,  1268. 
Tarogqua,  1264, 1272. 
Tutib,  1272. 
Twin,  1294. 
White  Mountain,  1272. 

Ranges: 

Como,  1283. 
Desatoya,  1263,  1265. 
Magdalena,  1277. 
Mammoth,  1267. 
Sand  Spring,  1263, 1268. 
Shoshone,  1263,  1266. 
Sierra  Nevada,  1253. 
Toyabe,  1263,  1266, 


Ranges— Continued, 
Spanish,  1295. 
Toyabe,  1263,  1266, 

Rivers  : 

Arroyo  de  Cienegnilla,  1276. 

Canadian, 1299, 

Carson,  1264, 

Ladrones,  1277. 

Rio  Grande,  1276. 

American,  (south  fork  of,)  1290. 

Truckee,  1290, 

Upper  Truckee,  1278, 

Springs,  &c, : 

Antelope.  1232, 

Aguejes  del  Caiioncito,  1277. 

Aguejes  de  los  Tomascefios,  1277. 

Aguejes  de  los  Torres,  1277, 

Chalk  Well.  1265, 

Coyote,  1277. 

Dead  Horse  Well,  1241, 1212,  1245. 

Hot,  1282,  1287. 

Llano,  1277. 

Mountain  Well,  1265. 

Mule,  1277. 

Ojo  de  las  Canas,  1277. 

Ojo  de  Cibolo,  1277. 

Ojo  Parida,  1277. 

Ojo  Sepulto,  1277. 

Pedernal  Water  Hole,  1231,  1232. 

Sand,  1265. 

Soda, 1293. 

Steamboat,  1283, 

Sulphur,  1268. 

Warm,  1236. 

W^elsb,  1270, 

Wilkinson,  1270. 

Valleys: 

Carson,  1285,  1286. 
Cherry,  1265, 
Cottonwood.  1302, 
Fairview,  1265,  1266, 
Hot  Springs,  1267,  1268, 
lone,  1267, 
Lake  Tahoe,  1279. 
Lake,  1291,  1293. 
Ponil,  1302, 
Purgatoire,  1275, 
'      Reese  River,  1266, 1271. 
San  Luis,  1253. 
Sierra,  1254, 
Smith's,  1266, 
Steamboat,  1283, 
Squaw,  1282,  1290,  1295. 
Taos,  1275. 
Vermejo.  1302, 


INDEX  TO  TECHNICAL  NAMES, 


Abedus,  1332. 
Acanthia,  1329, 1330. 
Acanthosoma,  1324. 
Aegialitis,  1312. 
Agalliastes,  1328, 
Agoelaiue.  1305.  1309, 
Aquila,  1311, 1320. 
Aix, 1313. 
Alydus,  1325. 
Ambrysus,  1331. 
Anas, '1313, 1321. 


Anasa,  1325. 
Anisocelis,  1325. 
Anser,  1312, 1321. 
Anthus,  1308. 
Antrostomus,  1310,  1318. 
Apiomerinus,  1330. 
Apiomerus,  1330. 
Aradus,  1329. 
Archibuteo,  1311,  1320. 
Ardea, 1312, 1321. 
Arilus,  1329. 


IV 


INDEX. 


Asopiuse,  1323. 

Asyndesmus,  1319. 

Atomosira,  1.324. 

Banasa,  1324. 

Belostoma,  1331. 

Beosus,  1327. 

Berytus,  1325. 

Branta,  1313, 1321. 

Brochemena,  1323. 

Bubo,  1319. 

Bucephala,  1314. 

Buteo,  1311,  1320. 

Bythoscopus,  1334. 

Calocoris,  1328. 

Campylenchia,  1333. 

Camptobrochis,  1328. 

Canace,  1.320. 

Capsus,  1327, 1328. 

Cardellina,  1307. 

Carpodacus,  1305,  1309,  1316. 

Catorhintha,  1324. 

Celo.sira,  1288. 

Cercopis,  1334. 

Ceresa,  1332. 

Certhia.  1316. 

Ceryle,  1310,  1319. 

Chaitura,  1305. 

Cbaulelasmus,  1313. 

Chelinidea,  1324. 

Chlorochroa,  1323, 1324. 

Chondestes,  1309. 

Chordeiles,  1310. 

Cicada,  1332. 

Cimex,  1323, 1324,  1325,  1329,  1330. 

Circus,  1311,  1320. 

Cistothorus,  1308. 

Coccoueis,  1288. 

Cocconema,  1288. 

Colaptea,  1311,  1319. 

Collurio,  1309. 

Colvmbus,  1314,  1322. 

Conorhinuvs,  1330. 

Coreina,  1324, 

Corisa,  1332. 

Coriscus,  1329. 

Corizus,  1325. 

Corixa,  1332. 

Corvus,  1310,  1318. 

Cyanocitta,  1304,  1305, 1310. 

Cyanospiza,  1309. 

Cyanura,  1304,  1305,  1318. 

Cyclotella,  1288. 

Cygnus,  1312. 

Cymbella,  1288. 

Cymnus,  1326. 

Dafila,  1313. 

Darius,  1333. 

Dasycoris,  1325. 

Dendrocygua,  1313. 

Dendroica,  1306,  1307,  1308,  1316. 

Edessa,  1324. 

Empidonas,  1318, 

Ereunetes,  1312. 

Erismatura,  1314. 

Enchenopa,  1333. 

Epithemia,  1288. 

Eucbistus,  1323. 

Eurvga^ter,  132Q. 

Falco,  1311,  1319. 

Fragiiaria,  1288. 

Fulgora,  1333. 


Fnlica,  1312,  1321. 
Fuligula,  1313,  1314,  1321. 
Gallinago,  1312,  1321. 
Galgulus,  1331. 
Geocoris,  1326.  1327. 
Gerris,  1331. 

Geothlypis,  1306,  1307,  1308. 
Gompbouema,  1288. 
Graculus,  1314,  1322. 
Grapbite,  1302. 
Gyinnokitta,  1310. 
Haliaitus,  1320. 
Halydina,  1323. 
Halys,  1323. 
Hebrus,  1330. 

Helmiathopbaga,    1305,    1306,    1307,  1308, 

1316. 
Helocbara,  1334. 
Herodias,  1312. 
Heteroptera,  1322. 
Himantidium,  1288. 
Hydrocbelidon,  1314. 
Hygrotrecbus,  1331. 
Icteria,  1306. 
Inoceramus,  1298,  1300. 
Iscbnorvncbus,  1326. 
Junco,  i305,  1309,  1316. 
Largus,  1327. 
Larus,  1314,  1322. 
Leptocoris,  1326. 
Leptoglossus,  1325. 
Ligyrocoris,  1327. 
Limouite,  1.301. 
Lopbophanes,  1315. 
Lopbortyx,  1.312. 
Lopidea,  1327. 
Lygaeus,  132.5,  1326,  1327, 
Lygus,  1328. 
Mareca,  1313,  1321, 
Margus,  1324, 
Mastogloia,  1288. 
Melauocoryphus,  1326. 
Melauolestes,  1330. 
Melauopleurus,  1326. 
Meloslra,  1288. 

Melospiza,  1305,  1306,  1309,  1316. 
Membracis,  1332. 
Mergus,  1314,  1321. 
Miris,  1327. 
Murgantia,  1324. 
Myiadestes,  1316. 

Myiodioctes,  1305, 1306,  1307,  1308, 
Myodocba,  1327. 
Nabis,  1329. 
Narnia,  1325. 
Naucoris,  1331, 
Navicula,  1288. 
Neides,  1325. 
Nepbocoetes,  1305. 
Notonecta,  1332. 
Nysius,  1326. 
Oederaia,  1321. 
Olivine,  1295. 
Optbaliaicus,  1327, 
Orectoderus,  1328, 
Oreortyx,  1305,  1312,  1320. 
Oreoscoptes,  1308. 
Otus,  1311,  1319. 
Pacbylis,  1325. 
Pamela,  1327. 
Paudiuu,  1311,  1319. 


INDEX. 


Parus,  130S,  1316. 

Passerculus,  1309. 

Passerella,  1304,  1305, 1306,  1317,  1318. 

Pedioaocoris,  1331. 

Pelecanus,  1314,  13-21. 

Peutatoma,  1323. 

Peutatomiaa,  13'23,  1324. 

Perillus,  1323. 

Peritrechus,  1329. 

Petalochiras,  1330. 

Phymata,  1329. 

Pbvtocoris,  1327. 

Pica,  1305,  1310,  1318. 

Picicorvus,  1318. 

Picoides,  1319. 

Picus,  1304, 1305,  1311,  1319. 

Piudus,  1329. 

Piunularia,  1288. 

Pipilo,  1305.  1318. 

Pirates,  1330. 

Podiceps,  1315,  1322. 

Poocetes,  1309. 

Poospiza,  1309. 

Porzana,  1312. 

Piiouosoma,  1323. 

Prionotus,  1329. 

Proconia,  1334. 

Pubilia,  1333. 

Pyrauga,  1316. 

Quara,  1277. 

Querquedula,  1313,  1321. 

Eallns,  1312,  1321. 

Easahus,  1330. 

Recurvirostra,  1312. 

Eeduvius,  1329,  1330. 

Eegulus,  1308,  1315. 

Restheuia,  1328. 

Rhiuogryphus,  1311. 


Rudistes,  1300. 

Salda,  1327,  1330. 

Sayornis,  1310. 

Scolecophagus,  1310,  1318. 

Scolops,  1333, 

Selasphorus,  1304,  1310,  1318. 

Setophaga,  1306,  1307. 

Sialia,  1308,  1315. 

Sitta,  1316. 

Smilia,  1333. 

Spatula,  1313,  1321. 

Speotyto,  1311. 

Spbyrapicns,  1304,  1305,  1319. 

Spizella,  1309. 

Stachyocaeinus,  1325. 

Stenopoda,  1330. 

Sterua,  1314. 

Stiphrosoma,  1328. 

Strachia,  1324. 

Sturnella,  1310. 

Syromaatea,  1324. 

Telamona,  1333. 

Tettigouia,  1334. 

Tettigonid*,  1334. 

Tetyra,  1322. 

Thryothorus,  1305. 

Thvanta,  1324. 

Totanus,  1312. 

TrapezoQotus,  1327. 

Troglodytes,  1305,  1308 

Tardus,  1304,  1305,  1307,  1315. 

Tyraunus,  1310. 

Xauthocephalus,  1309. 

Zaitha,  1331. 

Zenaidura,  1311. 

Zicronia,  1323.| 

Zonotrichia,  1305,  1309,  1316,  1317. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


C.iscade  Lake  Glacier,  1292. 

Coal  Beds  near  Trinidad,  1301. 

Coal  Beds  of  Cottonwood  Caiion,  1303. 

Coal  Beds  of  Ponil  Valley,  1302. 

Emerald  Bay  Glacier,  1292. 

Fallen  Leaf  Lake  Glacier,  1292, 

List  of  road-distances,California,  1234,1239. 

List  of  road  distances,  Colorado,  1228-1232. 

Maxwell  laud-grant,  1301. 


Maxwell  laud-grant.  Coal-beds  of,  1301. 
Rocks  and  minerals,  (microscopic  exam 

inatiou  of,)  1296,  1297,  1298. 
Rubicon  trail,  1282. 
Shakespeare's  Cliff,  1279,  1289. 
Sierras,  eastern  summit  of,  1288. 
Sierras,  western  summit  of,  1290. 
Sterling  mill,  1271. 
Sutro  tuuuel,  1247, 1258, 1259, 1285. 


